Humane Society of the U.S. Criticizes Wendy's Frosty Attitude Toward Animal Welfare

The Humane Society of the United States is urging Columbus-based Wendy's to stop lagging behind Burger King when it comes to animal welfare. The animal protection charity is running ads criticizing Wendy's lack of movement away from the use of eggs from caged hens.

The HSUS, a Wendy's shareholder, placed a full-page ad in The Columbus Dispatch today and has been running radio ads urging Wendy's to follow the lead of Burger King and begin phasing in the use of cage-free eggs. Unlike Burger King, which is committed to using five percent cage-free eggs by the end of the calendar year, 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.

In March, Burger King began phasing in the use of cage-free eggs. After months of discussions with The HSUS, Wendy's is still lagging far behind Burger King's modest steps when it comes to reducing cruelty to egg-laying hens, even though it could easily bring itself up to speed.

"There's no excuse for Wendy's frosty attitude toward animal welfare," stated Paul Shapiro, senior director of The HSUS's factory farming campaign. "Wendy's should stop being so cold-hearted and at least meet Burger King's modest standards when it comes to the cruel confinement of egg-laying hens in tiny cages."

The HSUS is beginning to contact its supporters to urge Wendy's to implement this modest reform.

Facts

• U.S. factory farms confine nearly 300 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

• July 2007—Wendy's announces welfare 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."  

-30-

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.