Walmart (NYSE: WMT) will start to offer better eggs, at least from the standpoint of “fair treatment” of animals  But are better eggs the ones that have fewer antibiotics. or ones which taste better? Walmart did not answer that when it announced its “New Animal Welfare and Antibiotics Positions” programs.

Walmart management said in a statement:

Humane Treatment of Farm Animals: Walmart is committed to offering affordable products in a way that is sustainable for people and the planet.

Walmart believes that animals should be treated humanely throughout their lives. As part of its animal welfare position statement, Walmart  will not tolerate animal abuse, supports the globally recognized “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare, and is committed to working with supply chain partners to implement practices consistent with the Five Freedoms. Walmart is asking suppliers to:
•Report and take disciplinary and corrective action in cases of animal abuse.
•Find and implement solutions to address animal welfare concerns in housing systems, painful procedures and euthanasia or slaughter.
•Promote transparency by providing progress reports to Walmart and publicly reporting against their own corporate animal welfare position on annual basis

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The animals do eventually get slaughtered, so their final, ugly fate does not get altered by the new Walmart program:

Management added:

Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Farm Animals:. Walmart believes that antibiotics should be used responsibly in farm animals, and with that in mind, the company is asking suppliers to:
•Adopt and implement the Judicious Use Principles of Antimicrobial Use from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) including accurate record-keeping, veterinary oversight, and limiting antimicrobial treatment to animals that are ill or at risk.
•Adopt and implement Voluntary Guidance for Industry #209 from the Food and Drug Administration in their own operations and their industry producer programs, including eliminating growth promotion uses of medically important antibiotics
•Promote transparency by providing a report on antibiotics management to Walmart and publicly report antibiotic use on an annual basis

If Walmart offers “better products”, they may not be the ones consumers want, but instead those which protesters insist the huge retailer must provide. Walmart management says customers want to know more about how their food is “grown and raised”. That is probably not entirely true, unless that food tastes better and prices are cheaper.

 

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