Stamford's Centerplate Commits to New Animal Welfare Policies

From The Humane League.

Centerplate, one of the largest food management companies in the country, announced last week that the Stamford-based company has made a commitment to source all shell eggs within the United States from cage-free hens and all pork within the US from crate-free pigs. The move comes nearly a year after The Humane League began calling on the catering giant to discontinue the use of eggs sourced from farms practicing intense confinement of egg-laying hens known as battery cages.

Many of Centerplate’s own clients switched to cage-free eggs after working with The Humane League including the New England Aquarium, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Baltimore Convention Center, The Sacramento Convention Center Complex, The Ocean City Convention Center, and others. Amy Adams, member of The Humane League, launched a petition on Change.org asking Centerplate to end inhumane farming methods: “Centerplate has finally agreed to stop supporting the cruel practice of putting birds in tiny wire cages. They have also agreed to eliminate gestation crates for pregnant pigs in their supply chain. These improvements are due to the 64,000 compassionate people who signed my petition. Thanks to everyone who spoke up for these animals!”

“We appreciate Centerplate’s announcement to improve animal welfare within its purchasing practices. This move will impact the lives of tens of thousands of animals.” says Humane League’s Executive Director, David Coman-Hidy. “The elimination of cruel practices like battery-cages and gestation crates has become increasingly important to consumers. Its nice to see companies like Centerplate align their practices with consumer demands.”

The Humane League advocates for a boycott of battery cage eggs at food service companies across the country and has successfully worked with many companies like Aramark, Sodexo, Au Bon Pain, Ikea, and others, to phase out this cruel practice from their supply chain. Battery cages house egg-laying hens in tightly confined space with less room than a sheet of paper to live in for virtually their entire lives, these sentient animals are unable to spread their wings or engage in any of their natural behaviors. This outdated agricultural practice is so cruel that it is already illegal in the entire European Union and several states in the US.

Photo: The Humane League via Facebook.