Ten Reasons Wendy’s Should Move away from Battery Cages |
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November 7, 2007
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Battery cages are inhumane.
Arguably the most abused animals in all of factory farming, about 285 million laying hens in the United States are confined in barren, wire "battery cages" so restrictive the birds can't even spread their wings.
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Wendy's is lagging behind its competition.
Burger King, Hardee's, Carl's Jr., and Burgerville have all started moving away from battery-cage eggs. Wendy's has egg on its face—the company is causing hens to needlessly suffer and is getting left in the dust when it comes to animal welfare.
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Wendy's policy is behind the times.
Corporations across the country—from retail chains to tech giants—are taking a stand against battery cage cruelty. National grocery chains such as Whole Foods Market and a number of regional chains are selling only cage-free eggs. Ben & Jerry's is completely phasing out its use of battery cage eggs. AOL, Nike and Google also have cage-free corporate cafeterias.
And more than 330 universities and schools are now using cage-free eggs.
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Now is the ideal time.
Wendy's has just started rolling out its breakfast menu in several hundred locations. The company can't hide behind its cited excuse of selling too few eggs to make a change.
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Wendy's can improve the lives of thousands of hens.
The company has an opportunity and an obligation to reduce cruelty in its supply chain.
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Virtually all major humane and environmental groups oppose battery cages, too.
Some of these groups include ASPCA, American Humane Association, Sierra Club, National Environmental Trust, Natural Resources Defense Council and The HSUS.
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It's consistent with Wendy's stated concern about animal welfare.
The Wendy's website states: "We believe that handling animals in a humane manner, and preventing neglect or abuse, is the right thing to do."
The confinement of egg-laying hens in cruel battery cages is out of step with Wendy's own claims about its concern for animal welfare.
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Cage-free eggs are accessible and available.
Both companies using far more eggs than Wendy's does and those using far fewer eggs than Wendy's have switched to cage-free eggs. Not only is moving away from battery-cage eggs the right thing to do, it's not difficult.
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Science and common sense agree: confining a hen to a meager 72 square inches of cage space—that's not right.
Numerous animal welfare scientists have detailed the welfare problems with battery cage confinement systems. Among them is Dr. Bernard Rollin, who says, "Virtually all aspects of hen behavior are thwarted by battery cages....Research has confirmed what common sense already knew—animals built to move must move."
72 square inches is less space than a standard sheet of notebook paper. This is not an acceptable amount of space in which to confine a four-pound animal for her entire life.
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Americans care about animal welfare.
In 2007 the American Farm Bureau Federation funded a national survey of consumer attitudes toward farm animal welfare issues. The findings confirmed what many of us already knew: The vast majority of Americans care about farm animals and oppose cruelty to them.
There are at least 10 reasons Wendy's should move away from battery cage eggs. Call today, and ask the company to stop being so "frosty" toward animal welfare: 1-800-443-7266, ext. 2032. Battery-cage cruelty is just not right!
See the Video
Battery-Cage Eggs
Related Links
Wendy's: Time to Do the Right Thing
Wendy's: That's Not Right
Wendie Malick to Wendy's: Stop Tarnishing my Name
Wendy’s Criticized for Lagging Behind Competition on Animal Welfare as it Rolls Out Expanded Breakfast Menu
'No Battery Eggs' Campaign Exposes the Hard-Boiled Truth about Laying Hens
Cage-Free Egg Production vs. Battery-Cage Egg Production
Scientists and Experts on Battery Cages and Laying Hen Welfare
