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Walmart takes a stand on animal welfare, overuse of antibiotics

As a part of their commitment to a sustainable food chain, Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. issued a statement on Friday outlining their position on the issue of animal welfare and use of antibiotics in farm animals.

In the statement, Walmart said it plans to “implement practices consistent with the Five Freedoms,” referring to the Farm Animal Welfare Council’s list of five guidelines that include the raising of animals in an environment that keep them free from fear, hunger, discomfort, sickness, and confined spaces.

The company is also urging their suppliers to adopt and “implement judicious use” principals as outlined by the American Veterinary Medical Association, as well as adopting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Guidance for Industry #209, issued on April 13, 2012.

The FDA’s Guidance for Industry #209 includes requiring veterinary oversight, accurate record-keeping and the avoidance of medically important antibiotics being used for growth and feed efficiency in animals. Gail Hansen, the senior officer of the antibiotic resistance project at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said that veterinarians, consumer advocates and the meat and poultry industry often have differing opinions on what “the judicious use” of antibiotics means.

She says that Walmart’s specifically using the term “judicious use” is “helpful” in that it gives everyone the same “starting point.” While Walmart was being specific in using the term, it actually is what the first page of the FDA’s Guidance for Industry #209 spells out: “The Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals.”

Walmart’s announcement today will have a far-reaching effect on suppliers as well as other retail companies, and this may turn out to be a good move for all concerned. In this morning’s statement, Kathleen McLaughlin, Walmart’s sustainability VP, said: “We have listened to our customers and are asking our suppliers to engage in improved reporting standards and transparency measures regarding the treatment of farm animals.”

To that end, Walmart is taking an unprecedented position, asking suppliers to voluntarily provide animal welfare reports both to Walmart and the public on a yearly basis.It seems that if suppliers want to work with Walmart, they will have to eventually abide by the new protocols. Needless to say, public health officials are eagerly awaiting the response to Walmart’s call for on-farm antibiotic use data.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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