Update on Better Chicken Commitment
February 2023
In 2018, PCC signed on to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) to improve the welfare of chickens raised for meat.
Based on data from cumulative 2022 purchases of fresh and frozen raw chicken1, .8% meets the breed standard, 99.9% meets the stocking density standard, 99.9% meets the environment (litter, lighting, and enrichments) standard, 37.7% meets the CAS standard, and 99.9% meets the third-party auditing requirement. We are still committed to fulfilling all components of the BCC by 2026 and will update progress every year until fully compliant.
Additionally, the following outlines the progress of our suppliers for fresh and frozen chicken within scope of BCC2:
| BCC Criteria | Pitman Farms/Mary’s Chicken | Ranger/Perdue |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum stocking density of 6 pounds per square foot (and prohibit broiler cages) | Yes | Yes |
| Litter, lighting, and environmental enrichments that meet BCC standards | Yes | Yes |
| Process chickens in a manner that avoids pre-stun handling and uses multistep controlled atmosphere processing system for irreversible stun | Yes | No |
| Raise chicken breeds approved by Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) or Global Animal Partnership (GAP) | Yes —Mary’s Heritage whole bird
No—Mary’s Organic chicken & PCC PL chicken* |
No |
| Use third-party auditing to ensure compliance | Yes | Yes |
*At this time, Pitman does not raise any breeds approved under the BCC for these lines, however they do raise birds that are slower to develop than conventional, large-scale poultry operations and exhibit higher welfare outcomes. Pitman Farms is continuing to research slower-growing breed options and will have them available in the future.
1Current reporting does not include ready-to-eat products or processed frozen items.
2 PCC has an exemption for smallholder farms that cannot afford to implement large-scale slaughter systems. Those producers must continue to meet PCC’s standards and must use humane slaughter methods approved for the scale of their operation. This exemption allows PCC to balance our commitment to broiler welfare while continuing to support smaller, local producers.