40 Canadian Food Companies Ranked on Their Animal Welfare Performance

The Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard is the leading annual report ranking major food companies operating in Canada on their animal welfare progress. For the fourth year in a row, the report reveals which of these companies are taking meaningful action to eliminate the cruelest practices from their supply chains—and which are not. 

This year, the one-of-a-kind scorecard evaluates the animal welfare standards, transparency, and progress reporting of 40 companies, providing valuable insight into their performance on farmed animal welfare. 

Credit: Abigail Messier / We Animals Media

What You Need to Know

The Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard ranks companies on three of the most pressing animal welfare issues: cage confinement for laying hens; crate confinement for mother pigs; and the living conditions, breeding practices, and slaughter methods affecting chickens raised for meat. Farmed animals trapped in the Canadian food system suffer severe physical and emotional distress. Mother pigs are crammed into tiny crates, hens agonize in wire cages, and chickens bred for unnatural growth live and die in pain. 

Years ago, major food companies operating in Canada pledged to end some of the worst suffering for the millions of animals in their supply chains. With deadlines approaching, the Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard aims to hold them accountable and ensure they follow through on their promises.

Credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media

Which companies are leading the way? Which companies are falling behind?

Companies are ranked from best to worst performers and scored on their public animal welfare policies, progress reporting, and roadmaps for fulfilling their commitments. A&W Canada and Restaurant Brands International, parent company of Tim Hortons, lead the pack as two of the report’s top performers. Others, such as the massive restaurant companies MTY Group and Foodtastic, are falling behind and rank as some of the poorest performers, showing no public signs of progress on their commitments. 

Grocery retailers, restaurants, and foodservice providers are the country’s largest meat, dairy, and egg purchasers. These companies hold tremendous power to shift animal welfare standards. While some companies are demonstrating meaningful progress, many are lagging.

Credit: Abigail Messier / We Animals Media

Take Action

Millions of animals still suffer the most horrific practices at factory farms in Canada. Animals in the Canadian food system need your help, and you have the power to drive meaningful change. Don’t be fooled by corporate humanewashing! Visit CanadaScorecard.com to read the report and find out how you can make a difference for animals in Canada today.

Cover Photo Credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media