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| Controlled Atmosphere Stunning |
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We support the development of controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS). Since the formation of our Animal Welfare Council in 2002, we have been studying the feasibility of incorporating CAS into our animal welfare program. Most forms of CAS are designed to render birds irreversibly unconscious prior to slaughter by depriving them of oxygen through exposure to carbon dioxide or a mixture of gases. CAS is an alternative to the more common practice of stunning with an electrical current.
CAS offers potential, and some of our European suppliers already use CAS in their facilities. Approximately 30% of the chickens sourced from Europe for McDonald's European business come from these facilities. We will continue to monitor and learn from their experience as part of an ongoing CAS assessment.
In the U.S., we are collaborating with suppliers on research and development to explore and evaluate CAS potential and continuing to promote improvement to the current electrical stunning process.
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| Gestation Stalls for Sows |
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McDonald’s is a long-time supporter of alternatives to gestation stalls, leading the industry in advocating for a shift in sow housing. We have continuously advocated for advancements in this area. Our suppliers have made progress. An estimated 15% of McDonald’s U.S. pork supply and 65% of McDonald’s Europe’s supply is now sourced from facilities with open-pen housing. We expect these percentages to continue to increase over time.
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| Housing and Other Practices Related to Laying Hens |
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In 2000, McDonald's USA issued industry-leading guidelines for laying hens. These guidelines established high animal welfare standards for our U.S. egg suppliers, including increased cage space, improved air quality, and a prohibition on forced molting. Our program also focuses on continuous improvement in food safety, employee safety, and environmental waste management
Certain technologies and practices are more prevalent in some markets than they are in others. For example, in Europe approximately 76% of the eggs we purchase are cage-free (from hens that are kept inside but uncaged) or free-range (from hens that access the outdoors).
With different technologies, practices, and structures throughout the world, we share best practices and continue to learn about their potential for other markets.
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