Wendy’s Criticized for Lagging Behind Competition on Animal Welfare as it Rolls Out Expanded Breakfast Menu

The Humane Society of the United States reacted to Wendy's announcement today that it has expanded its new breakfast menu to the 500th restaurant.

"Wendy's should do the right thing and start using cage-free eggs as it expands its breakfast menu," stated Paul Shapiro, senior director of The HSUS's factory farming campaign. "There's no reason that it shouldn't at least meet the moderate improvements Burger King has implemented."

The HSUS, a Wendy's shareholder, recently initiated an ad campaign including print and radio spots urging Wendy's to follow the lead of Burger King and begin phasing in the use of cage-free eggs.

Unlike Burger King, which in March committed to using five percent cage-free eggs by the end of 2007, Wendy's still uses only eggs from hens confined in factory farm battery cages. These abusive cages are so small that birds cannot even spread their wings. Each hen laying eggs for Wendy's has less space than a sheet of letter-sized paper on which to live for more than a year.

Since The HSUS began contacting its supporters to urge Wendy's to follow Burger King's lead, thousands of people have emailed and called the company.

Facts

• U.S. factory farms confine nearly 280 million hens in barren battery cages that are so small, the birds can't even spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live.
• There is a snowballing national movement against battery cages. Burger King is beginning to use cage-free eggs. Wolfgang Puck is ending his use of cage eggs. Several grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, have stopped selling cage eggs. Companies such as AOL and Google have ended the use of cage eggs in their employee cafeterias.
• While cage-free does not mean cruelty-free, cage-free hens generally have 250-300 percent more space per bird and are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors than are caged hens. Cage free hens may not be able to go outside, but they are able to walk, spread their wings, and lay their eggs in nests—all behaviors permanently denied to hens confined in battery cages.

Timeline

• August 2007—The HSUS begins running radio and newspaper ads urging Wendy's to start using cage-free eggs.
• July 2007—Wendy's announces some improvements, although it still lags behind Burger King.
• March 2007—Burger King begins phasing in the use of cage-free eggs.
• March 2007—Wolfgang Puck announces the implementation of a wide-ranging program to improve animal welfare in his supply chain, including not using battery cage eggs.
• September 2006—Ben & Jerry's announces that it is phasing out the use of eggs from caged hens in its ice creams.
• May 2005—Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace announce that they have ended sales of eggs from caged hens.
• November 2003—The Better Business Bureau rules that it is misleading to label eggs from battery-caged hens as "Animal Care Certified."  

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.humanesociety.org.