BOSTON—Grocery stores have increased humane food offerings by 23 percent in 2009 compared to 2008, according to a survey from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).
The Humane Food Survey ranks the top 25 U.S. supermarket chains by annual sales and surveyed 200 stores in 34 states. The 2009 survey recorded products in four categories: dairy, eggs, unprocessed meat and poultry, and processed meat and poultry (bacon, ham, hot dogs, etc.). Stores were ranked using a point system based on the quality and variety of the food products available on the shelves.
Whole Foods scored the highest, offering twice as many humanely labeled products per store as the two companies tied for second – Shaw's Supermarkets and Publix Super Markets. Wal-Mart Stores, the world's largest food retailer, scored near the bottom. The lowest in the survey was Save-A-Lot Food Stores with no humanely labeled products found in its stores.
For store rankings and survey results, click here.