Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill made a big splash when it began sourcing humanely raised pork from Niman Ranch several years ago, the first step in its “Food With Integrity” philosophy that grew to include humanely raised chicken and beef, and organic beans and produce when possible.
A growing number of restaurant chains have since followed that lead. They aren’t waiting for legislation to set the standards for the eggs and pork they’ll buy — instead, chains aim to influence their suppliers to switch to more humane standards by showing that there’s a demand for cage-free eggs and pork raised without the use of gestation crates. In recent months, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Denny’s have all committed to work with suppliers to end the use of gestation crates.
The supplier side is key — Denny’s can’t serve breakfast without plenty of bacon and eggs on hand, which means it’ll likely take a while for every location to be fully stocked with cage-free pork products and eggs. But as with most things, if the demand is there, the supply eventually follows.
Egg farmers in California lobbied hard against Proposition 2, a 2008 ballot measure that passed by a wide margin, which gives egg producers until 2015 to convert to cage-free operations. Producers argued that the cost to retrofit their operations and change the way they do business would be prohibitive. Presented with overwhelming evidence that voters wanted them to make changes, some producers have gotten proactive and are working with the Humane Society of the United States to lobby for national standards, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Like a growing number of restaurant chains, suppliers are changing the way they do business to meet customer demand, they say.
“When we lost, we saw that California voters were asking for something different. We listened to what that vote said and tried to find a solution,” said Jill Benson, co-owner of JS West farm, which bankrolled the opposition to Prop. 2 and has since spent more than $7 million to build two barns that give egg-laying chickens more room to move around.
Pork producers are facing similar pressure; Prop. 2 requires them to transition away from gestation crates, which are used to isolate pregnant sows. Not everyone agrees with that provision. The American Veterinary Medical Association says crates used properly can be humane, The Washington Post reported. But Prop. 2 didn’t pass because the scientific community or agriculture industry rallied around it — it passed because the general population wants its food to come from humanely raised sources, and eight states have since passed similar measures.
Do your customers care about cage-free? If so, are you finding supply to meet the demand? Tell us in the comments.
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Anyone concerned about the abuse of animals on factory farms should OPPOSE the HSUS-egg producers federal legislation referred to here. Not only would it establish egg factory cages as a national standard, it would eliminate the rights of states and voters to do anything about it (AND nullify existing state laws that already ban or restrict battery cages, such as CA's Prop. 2). That is why it is being pushed by the egg industry itself! The Stop the Rotten Egg Bill (http://www.StopTheRottenEggBill.org) campaign is getting it right. Check it out. This bill would keep hens forever locked IN cages, despite the overwhelming desires of the American public.
This a clear example of a great compromise that works for everyone. The birds are in better environments and it keeps the cost down for the consumers. Why doesn't this work? Also, the egg producers say it is good, the Humane Society says it is good, vets (the AVMA) say it is good, AND consumers say it is good. Why do you think you know more than those four parties?
Government has nothing to do with this. The egg producers and the humane society want this and want the government to make it law so that people that are unfair to animals must follow the rules.
Don't we all want better living arrangements for birds?!?!?
It is simply absurd to contend that exploitation can ever be humane. Irrespective of living conditions, a life spent in enslavement followed by a premature death cannot in any way be considered humane. Advocating humane exploitation is analogous to advocating compassionate rape.