Chipotle Mexican Grill will require its chicken suppliers to meet more humane practices set by the Global Animal Partnership, a move lauded by animal advocates.
The Denver-based chain now requires chicken producers to provide more space for the birds, improve their living conditions, such as lighting and litter, and make sure they are unconscious before slaughter.
Chipotle, which has more than 2,200 locations, purchases roughly 140 million pounds of chicken annually, according to a statement released Friday announcing the change.
Chipotle worked with Compassion in World Farming USA and The Humane Society of the United States to address concerns about how chickens were raised and processed.
Mercy For Animals president Nathan Runkle said in a statement that the change should reduce the suffering of birds and he encouraged others to follow in the food chain’s footsteps.
This announcement follows similar commitments from Starbucks, Panera Bread, Pret A Manger, Le Pain Quotidien and foodservice companies, including Aramark, Compass Group and Sodexo, according to Mercy For Animals.
In 2015, Chipotle took carnitas off the menu in a third of its restaurants . Two years before that, Chipotle became the the presence of genetically-modified ingredients in its food.
