Page 7 - IAV Digital Magazine #423

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Burger King Says It Will Stop Serving Abused Chickens
By Jackie Wattles
Burger King wants to serve happier chickens.
The company said Tuesday that it plans to stop buying chickens from farms that grossly mistreat them.
By 2024, the chain plans to purchase only chickens raised according to welfare standards estab- lished by the animal advocacy group Global Animal Partnership. The company says it will
reduce the suffering of millions of chick- ens.
"Chickens raised for
meat, also known as 'broilers,' are among the most abused animals on the plan- et," GAP said in a
joint statement.
"They are bred to grow so unnaturally fast that they are
often crippled under their own weight. Many suffer from constant leg pain so severe they cannot stand, and so spend nearly all their time sitting in their own waste," GAP said.
According to the organization's web- site, GAP-certified farmers must pro- vide birds with access to light and keep their barn liv- ing conditions clean- er. The chickens must also be ren- dered unconscious before they're slaughtered to mini-
mize pain.
GAP says Burger King will use third- party auditors to ensure its suppliers comply with GAP standards.
The move by Burger King follows similar commitments made in recent years by companies including Chipotle (CMG), Red Robin (RRGB), Quiznos, Panera Bread (PNRA) and Starbucks(SBUX) to improve the welfare of the animals in their supply chains.
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