100% cage-free eggs at McDonald’s
A day before the World Egg Day observed on October 14, Arcos Dorados, the world’s largest McDonald’s franchisee, announced plans to switch to 100 percent cage-free eggs in its supply chain—a move that will spare millions of animals each year from life inside cramped cages.
This policy follows years of dialogue with Humane Society International(HSI), one of the world’s largest animal protection organisation, which is working with Arcos Dorados on this and other animal welfare issues.
NG Jayasimha, managing director of HSI India, said, “We applaud Arcos Dorados’ decision to switch to exclusively cage-free eggs. We hope HSI’s work with Arcos Dorados in Latin America will inspire operators and other major food companies to ensure a better future for farm animals in India too.”
“As the pre-eminent brand in Latin America, we are committed to being at the forefront of industry best-practice initiatives. We will continue to ensure that our customers are consuming high quality products, in accordance with animal welfare policies. Once again, our supply chain is primed to surpass our client’s expectations and fulfill the growing demand,” stated the policy statement of Arcos Dorados.
In Latin America, like India, most egg-laying hens are confined in wire battery cages, where each hen has about the space of an A4 sheet of paper to spend her whole life. Battery cages are among the cruelest factory-farming invention. HSI has documented the suffering caused by the extreme over-crowding in these wire contraptions, where birds are confined to cages so small and tight, they can-not even flap their wings.
