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McDonald’s wants end to gestation stalls

McDonald’s Corporation has announced that it will require its U.S. pork suppliers to phase out the use of sow gestation stalls.

In a statement, McDonald’s says gestation stalls are not a sustainable production system for the future.  The fast-food giant is asking its suppliers to submit plans—by this May—to phase out the use of gestation stalls. 

At that point, McDonald’s says, it will determine its next steps.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has put heavy pressure on McDonald’s to make the move.  In a conference call with reporters, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle said the announcement makes it clear there is no future for gestation crates in the pork industry.

“We at HSUS believe this is a very significant development in our broader effort to see the pork industry move away from gestation crates as a core production strategy,” Pacelle says.

HSUS official Paul Shapiro describes it as “a bit of an earthquake in the pork industry”.

“When a company of the size and influence of McDonald’s is making the types of statements that the company made today—as you can see in our joint press release—you know that the writing is on the wall and that gestation crate confinement is going to go by the wayside,” Shapiro says.

McDonald’s announcement is also backed by renowned animal welfare scientist Dr. Temple Grandin, who says moving from gestation stalls to “better alternatives” will improve the welfare of sows.

AUDIO: Excerpts from HSUS’ media conference call (24:17 MP3)

Pork groups react

In a statement, the National Pork Board says it recognizes that food companies, such as McDonalds, “make decisions in the best interests of their businesses”. But the Pork Board maintains there are many ways – including sow gestation stalls – to properly care for sows. 

The Pork Board says what matters most is the “individual care given to each pig” – and that it looks forward to sharing its peer-reviewed research results into animal care and food safety “as McDonald’s begins implementing its decision.”

In its own statement, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) calls the move “an opportunity for the pork industry to respond to its customers”.

“Perhaps most importantly, today’s announcement reflects the best process for meeting evolving consumer demands—through the market, not through government mandates,” NPPC says.