A few weeks ago, Wolfgang Puck announced several new animal welfare policies for his restaurants and businesses. At the time, I wondered if other chefs would follow suit and begin animal welfare policies of there own. I figured it would be the beginning of a new movement (or maybe just a trend). However, I never anticipated that a fast food joint would follow suit. Last week Burger King announced that it would phase in several new animal welfare policies of their own. After meeting with The Humane Society and PETA, Burger King has adopted the following policies:
- Began purchasing 2% of its eggs from producers that do not use battery cages, upping that to 5% by the end of the year and preferring to purchase cage-free when possible.
- Started purchasing 10% of its pork from producers that do not use gestation crates (20% by the end of the year). Again, with a preference for non-gestation crate using producers if possible.
- Implemented a preference for producers that use controlled atmosphere killing of chickens used for meat.
Two and ten percent doesn't sound like much, but considering how much Burger King actually uses, it could mean a large switch in industry practices. Especially if any of Burger King's competitors follow suit (McD's I'm talking to you!).
Source: PR Newswire
Marciano
Mothercare
Skechers
this is fantastic. go burger king! way to listen to your consumers and not just the sound of the cash register dinging . . .
1Battery cages, gestation crates and non-controlled atmosphere for killing chickens? I'm not sure exactly what these are but they sound truly horrible. I live in Costa Rica and the eggs and meat are produced locally (the eggs in the supermarket aren't even refrigerated they are so fresh). I doubt the animals live in the same conditions here only because it sounds as if it would only be profitable for mega farms. Go Burger King! I hope others follow suit.
2This is a great step in the right direction, I wish every fast food restaurant would follow Burger King's example!!
3__________
Zing!!
I love hearing this stuff! Although I am animal lover, I do like to eat meat, too. Horrible conditions and treatment are the reasons I boycott Lamb and Veal ... I haven't eaten either of those since I was a kid.
4I don't even want to know what atmosphere killing is. :S
5Yay! I'm so glad this is starting to be a movement and not a "fad". Hopefully everyone else follows suit!
6I like BK better than McD's anyway! Rock on.
I think with the explosion of the organic food industry, people are realizing that Americans who can afford to pay a little more for safe/ethical practices _will_ pay a little more.
Not sure how this will affect BKs prices if at all. If it does, the market that eats there most often will probably actually be affected by the price increases which is a bummer.
7Makes me want to go vegetarian period lol.
8This is great! While it means little to me anymore because I've given up meats altogether, it's a step in the right direction. I love how consumer ethics have spiked upward in the last decade. I remember browsing the grocery store last summer and doing a double take when I saw "Organic Rice Crispies."
Too bad the Co-op in my area went out of business
9its a step forward at least
10go burger king!
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