Food Safety

• The health and safety of our guests is our number one priority. Darden will continue to provide the safest and highest-quality products for our guests.

Respect and Caring

• Darden and its affiliates hold Respect and Caring as a core value. This value extends to respect and caring for animals.

Best Science

• Darden’s principles and standards are based on the best available science in the context of good judgment and ethical behavior.
• As the best available science and our increased understanding of the broad set of animal welfare issues evolve, we will update our operating practices accordingly.

Stakeholders

• Darden will work with its animal food chain suppliers to improve farm and processing plant animal welfare.
• Darden will collaborate with those in the industry (suppliers, food service companies, retailers and others) to understand evolving best science and continuously improve animal welfare.
• Darden will continue to listen and take into consideration various points of view from our stakeholders (government, academia, communities where we operate, shareholders, suppliers, interest groups and others) to inform our efforts going forward.

Responsibility and Implementation
Darden communicates these expectations to our suppliers and animal welfare standards are included in suppliers’ purchasing contracts.  Darden expects suppliers to abide by applicable laws and standards.

Darden has established an Animal Welfare Working Group (AWWG) that includes representatives from Darden’s Supply Chain, Legal and Government and Community Affairs departments and, from time to time, may include consultants and experts.  The AWWG is responsible for setting performance objectives to measure our progress and will communicate milestones both internally and externally.