Wendy’s raises animal welfare standards for chicken

27-03-2012 | | |

Wendy’s Animal Welfare Council have announced two major improvements to its animal welfare standards to significantly improve the humane treatment of chickens and pigs.

One of Wendy’s chicken suppliers, OK Foods, Inc. has installed an innovative system that significantly improves the welfare of chickens. Called LAPS, (low atmospheric pressure system), it produces permanent unconsciousness in the bird before any handling by plant workers. It also replaces the industry standard practice of electrical stunning of chickens.

“We’ve studied the LAPS system and agree that it’s a major improvement to industry practices,” said said Dennis Hecker, head of Wendy’s Animal Welfare Council and SVP of Quality Assurance.. We encourage all chicken producers to embrace this practice.” Wendy’s is the first QSR chain to endorse the LAPS system.

In addition to improving the humane treatment of chickens, Wendy’s is working with its US and Canadian pork suppliers to eliminate the use of sow gestation stalls over time. 

To monitor and enforce Wendy’s high standards for animal welfare, all Wendy’s beef, poultry and pork suppliers in the US and Canada are regularly audited through announced and unannounced visits by trained inspectors. Nearly 1,200 audits have been conducted over the last 11 years. Importantly, suppliers who fail to meet the Company’s animal welfare standards are terminated.

“Wendy’s has a very effective auditing program to confirm animal welfare standards are routinely followed throughout North America,” said renowned animal welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin, associate professor, Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University.

Related website:
Wendy’s Animal Welfare Program

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