Crain's Chicago Business
McD’s explores 'cage-free' eggs
By: David Sterrett May 21, 2009
(Crain’s) — McDonald’s Corp. announced Thursday that it will participate in a study of alternatives to caging egg-laying hens. But the Humane Society of the United States, which criticizes McDonald’s for using only eggs from hens kept in small cages, claims the company is initiating the study to delay reforming its practices. The Human Society is encouraging McDonald’s shareholders to vote next week in favor of its resolution calling for the company’s U.S. stores to start using eggs from cage-free hens. The group notes that Burger King started using cage-free eggs two years ago, and chains such as Denny’s also use them.
McDonald’s says it will participate in a study with academics, Minnesota-based Cargill Inc., the American Veterinary Medical Assn. and several other groups to determine the sustainability of alternative hen housing and its effects on animal health, safe and affordable food, the environment and worker welfare. “This is a welcome initiative for egg purchasers like McDonald’s who want to consider all of the sustainability impacts when it comes to buying eggs — not just animal welfare, but environmental, food safety and economic factors,” Dan Gorsky, McDonald’s senior vice-president of North American supply chain management, said in a statement. “It is our intention for eggs produced as part of this study, including cage-free eggs, to partially supply McDonald’s USA by 2011.”
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