010702 Burger King Sets New Animal Care StandardJuly 3, 2001Chicago - Burger King Corp., operator of the second-largest U.S. hamburger chain, said it will require stricter standards for animal treatment and handling by suppliers, following similar moves by competitors. The Miami-based unit of London-based Diageo Plc said it will enforce the stricter standards for care, housing, transport, and slaughter of cattle, hogs, and chickens through announced and unannounced audits starting in October. The guidelines are based on, but in places exceed, existing recommendations. They set minimum cage space requirements for chickens and standards for ventilation, conveyor feeding, and access to water. They also discourage beak trimming. The cattle guidelines discourage branding or severe ear notching. They also require that suppliers not actively procure cattle that are lame, emaciated, or have advanced blindness. Earlier in June, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said it enlisted actors Alec Baldwin and Richard Pryor to pressure Burger King to meet or exceed standards for cattle and chickens set last year by fast-food arch-rival McDonald's Corp. PETA, which frequently uses shock campaigns portraying graphic pictures of slaughtered animals to hammer home its messages, said on Thursday it has called off its “Murder King” campaign following the Burger King announcement and would look next at chains such as Wendy's International Inc. “The only way to avoid cruelty in meat production is to go vegetarian, but today Burger King has taken giant steps to improve the lives of millions of animals,” PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement. In September, PETA suspended an 11-month campaign against McDonald's after the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said it would conduct unannounced audits of slaughterhouses and stop buying from suppliers that don't meet animal welfare mandates. Burger King said guidelines for the audits are to be set by Aug. 31. Announced audits will run from Oct. 31 through June 30, 2002 and unannounced audits will begin in August 2002. In a related matter, Burger King said it has petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fully and actively enforce the federal Humane Slaughter Act after its own advisory council expressed concern over application of the law. The American Humane Association, which certifies whether products come from humanely raised animals, said on Thursday that it was pleased by Burger King's announcement and echoed the need for better enforcement of federal slaughter rules. Top Burger King executives and top officials from the Food Safety Inspection Service, which enforces the slaughter act, are scheduled to meet July 10 to discuss the petition.
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