Ten Hollywood stars fired off a letter to the CEO of McDonald’s asking the company to establish a 100 percent cage-free purchasing policy for their egg suppliers. As the largest egg buyer in the U.S., the message reminds McDonald’s it has the power and “moral responsibility” to change the inhumane way hens are treated.
The “I’m Hatin’ It” letter was sent to McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner on December 19 by celebrities; Ryan Gosling, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Deschanel, Alicia Silverstone, Maria Menounos, Kristin Bauer, Ed Begley, Jr., Wendie Malick, Bryan Adams and Steve-O at the request of animal rights organization, Mercy For Animals.
It says, “On behalf of compassionate people everywhere, we implore you to help end the needless suffering of these animals by adopting strict and meaningful animal welfare policies worldwide, including the commitment to prohibit the purchase of eggs produced by hens who spend their miserable lives crammed into tiny wire cages.”
The appeal comes after a video shot in November, showed several locations of Sparboe Farms performing acts of “unconscionable cruelty” to hens.
The investigation prompted McDonald’s to quickly cut ties with the factory farm, but Mercy For Animals and the celebs say the company failed to make any significant changes to their egg buying policy. They merely changed the suppliers they buy from.
The letter points out:
“While McDonald’s has already established a 100% cage-free purchasing policy in Europe, your U.S. restaurants continue to support egg factory farms that confine hens for most of their lives in cages so small they can’t even spread their wings. These poor birds never get to walk, run, perch, roost, dustbathe, build nests, see the sun, breathe fresh air, or do nearly anything that comes naturally to them. Common sense tells us that animals with legs and wings should be given the basic freedom to move.”
“Sadly, there is not a single federal law to protect hens from cruelty from the time they hatch to the time they are killed. While McDonald’s brags about the “billions and billions served,” millions of hens exploited for your restaurants are being grossly underserved. In fact, these animals are being abused in ways that could land your egg suppliers in jail, if dogs or cats were the victims.”
The letter concludes:
“It’s a good time for some great changes at McDonald’s. As the largest egg buyer in the entire country, McDonald’s has the power – and the moral responsibility – to ensure that the eggs in its Egg McMuffins don’t come from rotten egg suppliers.”
Take action: Ask McDonald’s To Go 100% Cage-Free
Courtesy of: http://www.care2.com/