Supermarket Company Phases out Gestation Crates

Ahold USA, a supermarket corporation that owns more than 770 stores in 13 states, including Stop & Shop, Giant Carlisle, and the online food ordering system Peapod, will phase out the use of meat that comes from gestation crates within the next nine years. “We have set the goal that our suppliers will have moved from the daily use of gestation crates to open housing by 2022,” wrote Ahold in a statement. “Our intention is to work with suppliers who share our company’s values and who take a progressive approach to animal welfare.” Ahold’s decision to eliminate its use of the confining farm cages follows in the footsteps of numerous other corporate food companies, which range from retailers such as Safeway and Costco to fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Subway, and Jack in the Box.