Originally launched in 2012, the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) assesses the largest global food companies on their farmed animal welfare policies and practices. The BBFAW works to encourage higher animal welfare standards and a transition towards cruelty-free farming practices across the globe. 

So, what did the 2024 report reveal? 

The latest report on the BBFAW shows some positive progress in the food industry’s treatment of farmed animals, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. UK companies like Greggs, Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose, are making strides in animal welfare, ensuring it is a key part of their business by offering animals more space and better treatment.  

However, many large food companies, including global names like Nestlé, McDonald's, and Walmart, are still in the bottom two tiers for animal welfare for the second year in a row, showing that many companies are moving far too slowly when it comes to improving their practices. 

Location, location, location...

The results show a stark difference between geographical regions. UK companies are leading in animal welfare, whilst many companies in North America and Asia are falling behind. In North America, 98% of all food companies scored poorly.  

The report did highlight some positives, though. There is an increasing number of companies acknowledging the need to reduce their animal-based food products, as well as recognising farmed animals as sentient beings. However, there are still major concerns, such as the overuse of antibiotics and poor treatment of pigs and dairy cows, where only a small percentage of companies have set meaningful targets for improvement. 

It’s time to #CutTheCages 

Factory farming poses serious concerns for animal welfare, particularly through the widespread use of cages that severely restrict natural behaviours. In the UK, millions of animals—including hens and pigs—are still kept in cramped, barren cages where they can barely move, turn around, or express basic instincts like nesting or foraging. This confinement leads to immense physical and psychological suffering, increasing the risk of injury, disease, and chronic stress. 

These conditions are fundamentally at odds with the UK's commitment to animal welfare standards. Banning the use of cages is not only a moral responsibility, but also a crucial step towards creating a more humane and sustainable farming system that respects the sentience of animals. 

Read the full report here.  

What can be done?  

Your voice matters. You can call on the UK Government to ban all cages and crates for farmed animals. Help millions of animals that suffer every single day in cages across the UK. We cannot let this cruelty continue.