Grocery Chain Endorses Animal Welfare Program Posted on Agweb.com July 3, 2001 The largest retail grocery chain in the United States has endorsed the Food Marketing Institute's (FMI) new animal welfare program. The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and other members of FMI have been working with producers, processors and independent animal welfare experts to promote best management practices. These will help ensure that animals are treated humanely throughout the production process, according to Kroger. Kroger said FMI is working with national experts in animal husbandry, veterinary medicine and agricultural production "to obtain objective, measurable indices of desirable practices in the growing, handling and processing of animals in food production." "Animal welfare is an important issue to our company, our customers and our associates," Lynn Marmer, Kroger group vice president of corporate affairs, said in a statement. "We believe this collaborative approach, which brings together processors, producers, retailers and animal welfare experts, will raise the standards in the meat and poultry industries. Working together, we can ensure that animals are raised, transported and processed in a humane matter." Back to Main Index Page