Whole Foods to sell slow-growing chickens

Whole Foods Market announced it plans to change its sourcing for chickens. The retailer plans come after Global Animal Partnership’s standards, a non-profit animal welfare organization said it will require only slower-growing chicken breeds by 2024 for certification in its 5-Step Rating Program, which Whole Foods uses in its stores to rate meat and poultry.

“Since 2011, Whole Foods Market has used Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Rating system to provide our customers with standards and information around how the animal was raised for the meat they buy,” said Theo Weening, global meat buyer for Whole Foods Market. “Supporting this additional commitment to improve chicken welfare is a step forward in continuing to provide our customers with products of the highest quality and flavor.”

According to GAP, 98% of all commercially available chicken meat in North America comes from fast-growth chickens.

Source: Whole Foods Market