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McDonald’s pork suppliers must outline plans to stop sow gestation stalls
Story Date: 2/14/2012
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Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 2/13/12
McDonald’s will require its U.S. pork suppliers to outline their plans to phase out the use of sow gestation stalls, the company announced in a joint news release with the Humane Society of the United States.
“McDonald’s believes gestation stalls are not a sustainable production system for the future. There are alternatives that we think are better for the welfare of sows,” said Dan Gorsky, senior vice president of McDonald’s North America Supply Chain Management. “McDonald’s wants to see the end of sow confinement in gestation stalls in our supply chain.”
In a news release, Gorsky went on to say McDonald’s is beginning an assessment with its U.S. suppliers to determine how to build on the work already underway to reach that goal. In May, after receiving our suppliers’ plans, the company will share results from the assessment and our next steps.
“We are pleased to see a number of our U.S. suppliers adopting commercially- viable alternatives. For example, Smithfield Foods and Cargill have made significant progress in this area. We applaud these, and future efforts,” Gorsky added.
HSUS
“The HSUS has been a long-time advocate for ending the use of gestation crates, and McDonald’s announcement is important and promising,” said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. “All animals deserve humane treatment, including farm animals, and it’s just wrong to immobilize animals for their whole lives in crates barely larger than their bodies.”
Temple Grandin
“Moving from gestation stalls to better alternatives will improve the welfare of sows and I’m pleased to see McDonald’s working with its suppliers toward that end. It takes a thorough plan to address the training of animal handlers, proper feeding systems, and the significant financial investment and logistics involved with such a big change. I’m optimistic about this announcement,” said animal welfare Temple Grandin.
NPPC
“Today’s decision by the McDonald’s Corp. to study its suppliers’ use of individual sow housing is an opportunity for the pork industry to respond to its customers. The National Pork Producers Council stands ready to offer its assistance to McDonald’s as it assesses sow housing,” NPPC said in a statement.
The group went on to say various types of housing systems can provide for the well-being of pigs, noting the American Veterinary Medical Association determined both individual sow housing and group housing can provide for the well-being of sows.
“Perhaps most importantly, today’s announcement reflects the best process for meeting evolving consumer demands – through the market, not through government mandates. Pork industry customers have expressed a desire to see changes in how pigs are raised. Farmers are responding and modifying their practices accordingly. That process is effective, it is efficient and doesn’t require an act of Congress,” the NPPC statement added.
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