Chipotle was the only U.S. company honored at the Compassion in World Farming’s Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards. The event celebrated the global momentum that market-leading food companies are generating with higher welfare policies and practices. This year a total of 50 awards recognized policies that would benefit the lives of over 39 million animals each year. Chipotle was awarded a Good Sow Commendation in Pig Welfare for its commitment to ensuring that sows are free from confinement during both gestation and farrowing. This means gestation crates are never used for pregnant pigs, and farrowing crates are never used for mother pigs. This action is significant since these crates are so small that pigs cannot even turn around, causing them to exhibit abnormal behavior. Learn more about Chipotle’s award and commitment to animal welfare on the Compassion in World Farming’s Website here.

“Addressing the major welfare issues in pig production is challenging at the best of times. It’s particularly encouraging therefore to be able to award Chipotle on their commitment for free farrowing and higher welfare pig production. We hope that by sharing experiences, more producers will gain the confidence needed to invest and trial new systems. Our awards are a great way to recognize and congratulate those that are doing their part to better the lives of farm animals. We hope that others will follow in Chipotle’s footsteps to help drive change, for the sake of the millions of pigs reared for food each year.” – Dr. Tracey Jones, Compassion in World Farming’s Director of Food Business.