Wendy’s Takes Steps on Animal Welfare But Still Lags Behind Burger King

The Humane Society of the United States Welcomes Improvements for Pigs and Birds at Slaughter, But Urges Chain to Improve Standards for Egg-Laying Hens

Following discussions with The Humane Society of the United States and other animal welfare groups, Wendy's posted a new statement on its web site asserting that it has "strengthened its animal welfare guidelines."

The HSUS, a Wendy's shareholder, recognized Wendy's for taking these steps to improve farm animal welfare, but called on the fast food chain to follow the lead of Burger King and phase in the use of cage-free eggs. Unlike Burger King, Wendy's still uses only eggs from birds confined in cages so small they can't even spread their wings. Each hen 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 (5% by the end of 2007), pork from producers that don't confine pigs in gestation crates (20% by the end of 2007), and implemented a purchasing preference for chicken meat from plants that use controlled atmosphere killing.

Wendy's new steps include:

• Reaching 20% of its pork purchasing from gestation crate-free sources by the end of 2008 and continuing to increase that percentage over time. It has implemented a purchasing preference to crate-free suppliers. Burger King will be at 20% gestation crate-free pork one year earlier.
• Implementing a purchasing preference for chicken suppliers that "actively explore and test controlled atmosphere killing." Burger King has a purchasing preference for suppliers that actually use, not just test, the method.

Paul Shapiro, senior director of The HSUS's factory farming campaign, stated, "Wendy's has made some positive changes for farm animals, but the company should at least meet the standards of its competitors such as Burger King when it comes to the cruel confinement of egg-laying hens in tiny cages."

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.
• Gestation crates are two-foot-wide metal cages that confine millions of breeding pigs for nearly their entire lives. The crates are so restrictive that the animals can't even turn around for months on end. The animals suffer both leg and joint problems along with psychosis from this extreme treatment. They have been banned in Florida, Arizona, and Oregon.
• Controlled Atmosphere Killing, a method of slaughter in which birds are deprived of oxygen, has been shown to cause significantly less suffering than the barbaric but commonplace practice of shackling birds upside down while fully conscious, paralyzing them in electrified vats of water, and dragging them over mechanical blades which cut their throats.

Timeline

• March 2007—Burger King begins phasing in the use of cage-free eggs and pork from producers that don't confine pigs in gestation crates.
• 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 or pork from crated sows.
• March 2007—Congressmembers Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) introduce the Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act, which requires animal producers supplying federal programs with meat, dairy, and eggs to comply with a moderate set of animal welfare standards.
• January 2007—Smithfield Foods and Maple Leaf Foods announce that they are phasing out their use of gestation crates to confine breeding pigs.
• November 2006—In a landslide, Arizona voters pass an HSUS-led initiative banning gestation crates and veal crates in the state (effective 2013).
• September 2006—Ben & Jerry's announces that it is phasing out the use of eggs from caged hens in its ice creams.
• November 2005—Trader Joe's announces that its brand eggs will be exclusively cage-free.
• 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."
• November 2002—Florida voters overwhelmingly approve an HSUS-led measure banning gestation crates in the state (effective 2008).

  -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.