McDonald's to release study of chicken-slaughter
techniques
16-11-2009 By Mike Hughlett, Tribune staff reporter, The Chicago Tribune, USA
McDonald's Corp. this week is expected to release the results of a study showing that its suppliers' method of killing chickens is equally humane with an advocacy group's preferred technique.
Since last winter, the Oak Brook-based fast-food giant has been under fire over chicken-slaughter methods from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In the conventional killing method used in the United States, chickens are knocked unconscious with a jolt of electricity and then have their throats cut.
In another method, chickens are effectively gassed, which PETA claims is more humane, leading to less suffering. In Europe, McDonald's buys about 30 percent of its chickens from slaughterhouses that use the gas method. But in the U.S., the gas method of slaughter is almost non-existent commercially.
So PETA launched a "McCruelty" campaign -- complete with in-your-face protests at McDonald's restaurants -- to persuade the Golden Arches to pressure its chicken suppliers to adopt the gas method. McDonald's this week plans to release a study that included a 2008 commercial scale test of the gas method, known as controlled-atmosphere stunning or killing.
The study was done in conjunction with two of the restaurant chain's major chicken suppliers. "There is not enough evidence to say (controlled atmosphere stunning) is the No. 1 option," said Bob Langert, McDonald's vice president for corporate social responsibility. "Whether (chickens) suffer or not is an open question."
McDonald's claims that the scientific consensus on the issue mirrors its findings that neither method is better than the other. PETA claims the opposite, that animal scientists side with its position. In a statement Monday, PETA said it believes McDonald's conclusions are "highly questionable," though it says it has yet to see the company's report.
mhughlett@tribune.com
(Bron: http://www.chicagotribune.com/)
So PETA launched a "McCruelty" campaign -- complete with in-your-face protests at McDonald's restaurants -- to persuade the Golden Arches to pressure its chicken suppliers to adopt the gas method. McDonald's this week plans to release a study that included a 2008 commercial scale test of the gas method, known as controlled-atmosphere stunning or killing.
The study was done in conjunction with two of the restaurant chain's major chicken suppliers. "There is not enough evidence to say (controlled atmosphere stunning) is the No. 1 option," said Bob Langert, McDonald's vice president for corporate social responsibility. "Whether (chickens) suffer or not is an open question."
McDonald's claims that the scientific consensus on the issue mirrors its findings that neither method is better than the other. PETA claims the opposite, that animal scientists side with its position. In a statement Monday, PETA said it believes McDonald's conclusions are "highly questionable," though it says it has yet to see the company's report.
mhughlett@tribune.com
(Bron: http://www.chicagotribune.com/)
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