Animal Welfare
SASB: FB-FR-430a.2, FB-FR-430a.3
UN SDG: 12
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Published: Aug. 19, 2024
We aspire to meet demand for affordable protein while improving animal welfare, including the humane treatment of farm animals and responsible use of antibiotics.
Metric |
FY2022 |
FY2023 |
FY2024 |
| Percentage of Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. cage-free shell eggs, as percentage of total shell egg net sales, based on supplier reports1 | Walmart U.S.: 20% Sam's Club U.S.: 36% |
Walmart U.S.: 21% Sam's Club U.S.: 41% |
Walmart U.S.: 27% Sam's Club U.S.: 65% |
| Percentage of shell eggs at Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. meeting United Egg Producers animal welfare requirements or equivalent, based on supplier reports | Walmart U.S.: 100% Sam's Club U.S.: 100% |
Walmart U.S.: 100% Sam's Club U.S.: 100% |
Walmart U.S.: 100% Sam's Club U.S.: 100%2 |
| Percentage of Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club U.S. fresh pork suppliers abiding by the standards of the National Pork Board’s (NPB’s) Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus Program, based on supplier reports | Walmart U.S.: 100% Sam's Club U.S.: 100% |
Walmart U.S.: 100% Sam's Club U.S.: 100% |
Walmart U.S.: 100% Sam's Club U.S.: 100% |
| Percentage of Member’s Mark poultry that is antibiotic-free3 | 78% | ||
| Percentage of Walmart U.S. product net sales of fresh and frozen beef, pork, and poultry; shell eggs; and fluid dairy milk covered by suppliers reporting on antibiotic use through THESIS4 | 46% | 47% |
Customers, suppliers, farmers, veterinarians, and NGOs have a shared interest in meeting increasing demand for affordable protein while improving animal welfare. Our stakeholders expect us to work with suppliers to find solutions to address animal welfare concerns in supply chains and to promote responsible antibiotic use. While affordability remains a major concern, customers count on us to deliver products produced in ways that are consistent with their values and that support public health.
Walmart’s Animal Welfare Position, grounded in the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, serves as the foundation for our approach to animal welfare. We expect that suppliers will not tolerate animal abuse of any kind and that Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. fresh and frozen meat, deli, dairy, and egg suppliers to report any cases of animal abuse to authorities and take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.
In addition to this Position, Walmart works to promote animal welfare related to housing and antibiotic use through a combination of policies, third-party standards, collaboration, and engagement.
Despite our efforts, we are not currently on track to meet our 2025 goal of 100% cage-free eggs for Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. See the key actions and challenges table below and read more about our efforts: Our Journey Toward 100% Cage-Free Eggs Supply Chain: Progress & Challenges.
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| Shell eggs | Cage-Free Egg Supply Position | United Egg Producers Animal Husbandry Guidelines |
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Not on track to achieve 2025 cage-free egg goals due to:
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| Swine | Swine Assurance Position | National Pork Board Pork Quality Assurance Plus Program |
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| All meat, seafood, deli, dairy and egg suppliers | Antibiotics in Farm Animals Position | American Veterinary Medical Association’s Judicious Use Principles of Antimicrobials
U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Voluntary Guidance for Industry #209 |
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- Progress toward our aspirations to improve animal welfare depends on many actors, including retailers, suppliers, producers, scientists, and academic institutions.
- Fragmented regulatory regimes also affect our ability to meet certain animal welfare goals. For example, some jurisdictions require retailers to offer conventional products (e.g., eggs) to customers; others require the opposite. Ten states have enacted laws requiring cage-free egg production and/or egg sales, with compliance dates that range from present through July 2026. Conversely, at least one state has enacted restrictions requiring grocers participating in the federal food program known as WIC and offering cage-free eggs to also maintain an offer of conventional eggs. Similarly, some jurisdictions require pork producers to ensure certain space dimensions for sow housing; other jurisdictions do not.
- Animal welfare standards can change based on new scientific evidence and trade-offs (e.g., increased freedom of movement vs. susceptibility to harm from other animals; more space per animal vs. increased land and water use).
- Transitioning animal welfare practices may require suppliers and producers to make significant investments in infrastructure and raise their operating cost, which may result in higher prices on the shelf. Higher prices may disproportionately affect low-income customers who rely on eggs or pork as a source of affordable protein.
1. Supporting the goal to transition Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. to a 100% cage-free egg supply chain by 2025, subject to regulatory changes and based on available supply, affordability and customer demand.
2. The period for FY24 reporting was adjusted to reflect 12 months preceding Gigaton survey timeframe from 1st Aug 2022 to 31st July 2023. This differs from the FY23 previously reported data which was based on a fiscal reporting timeframe (Feb 1, 2022, to Jan 31st, 2023). Suppliers representing approximately 100% of Walmart U.S. net sales and 99% of Sam’s Club U.S. net sales for the same period, reported during the survey. Suppliers included in the survey include National Brand and Private Brand suppliers of shell eggs.
3. Supporting Sam’s Club U.S. Member’s Mark goal of “no antibiotics ever” poultry (excluding pet food) by 2025.
4. Suppliers report in THESIS on their use during the prior calendar year. Net sales figure includes the product net sales for the previous four quarters prior to reporting (Q3 through Q2) and excludes deli meat or processed meat in frozen value-added items.
