Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Maple Leaf aims to be animal welfare leader

Maple Leaf Foods has announced a investment of about $28 million in its Edmonton poultry slaughter plant, aiming to become a Canadian leader in animal welfare.

Part of the investment is in “world-class controlled atmosphere stunning technology,” the company said in a news release.

It is also converting its transportation, lairage and receiving area, is installing video cameras to monitor performance and to use for employee training and is going to “optimize rest-time and create a climate-controlled environment as it implements this technology.”

 "We are on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company on earth and being a leader in animal care is a cornerstone of this vision," said Michael McCain, president and chief executive officer.

"We are deploying world-class technologies and best practices that support our goal to eliminate stress and pain and provide humane treatment of animals in our care, while enhancing employee health and safety and food quality. 

“With Canada's leading poultry brands, we are advancing many dimensions of sustainability, from eliminating antibiotics, to best practices in animal care and dramatic reductions in our environmental footprint."