Foodservice giant Aramark has announced that it will eliminate the use of pork from animals bred using gestation crates in its U.S. supply chain by 2017. The plan was announced with the Humane Society of the United States, which has worked with many companies to eliminate the use of crates.

"Aramark is proud to stand in partnership with other industry leaders and supply-chain partners to transition away from gestation crates in a timely fashion," said Kathy Cacciola, Aramark's senior director of environmental sustainability. "We're committed to operating responsibly and addressing key issues, including animal welfare, throughout our supply chain and business, and this commitment helps move the entire industry toward the elimination of gestation crates."

To meet this goal, Aramark has asked its primary pork suppliers to develop plans for reducing, and then eliminating, gestation crates, reports the Philadelphia Enquirer. It will require new suppliers signing contracts for pork to provide a plan that addresses how they will phase out gestation creates to meet these important goals, the company said in a statement.

Source: Philadelphia Enquirer