Questions answered
There are 20 questions about “Animal welfare” in the “What are you doing about...” topic.
Click on a question to read our answer.
- 1. I am concerned at the lack of care taken to ensure that animals transported and slaughtered at your nominated abatoirs are given. Please make a pledge for 2011 to ensure that animals are not stressed and frightened before slaughter. additionally, to ensure the slaughter process is humane.
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Thank you for your comments. McDonald’s can assure you that the greatest care is taken to guarantee animals are treated with compassion during their transportation, and slaughter. McDonald’s require the sourcing of animals to be from farms which are farm assured and certified by independent certification bodies. Farm assurance is comprehensive and extends from the farm to slaughter, and has strict standards with regards to the transportation of animals. Personnel and vehicles are certified to transport animals at set stocking densities, for durations which are well below the permitted journey times, and animals must also be kept in the same social groups during transit to minimise stress.
(December 2010)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 2. Could you tell me the process when slaughtering the animals?
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Thanks for your question. Animals are first identified, in relation to its origin. This is to maintain traceability throughout the supply chain. Animals are then stunned before the killing process. There are several approved methods of stunning that may be used depending on the circumstances and the type of animal being slaughtered. Whatever the method, the animal must be immediately rendered insensible to pain, or reduce insensibility in a manner that does not cause pain, excitement or distress. Immediately after stunning, the animal must be bled and depending on the animal, there are very specific times that must be followed to allow for completion of the process. The welfare of animals during slaughter is protected by law and these laws are enforced. It is therefore a requirement for companies such as McDonald’s to ensure that their meat is supplied through processors who uphold the laws and ensure that they dispatch animals in a humane manner. McDonald’s have very high standards in place which ensure that the slaughtering of animals destined for its products is carried out in the most humane and compassionate manner and this is being constantly monitored by qualified personnel. The company simply will not work with any supplier that does not adhere to these high standards. All abattoirs must be EU-approved and all are under the care of qualified vets and health inspectors.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 3. Like you stated before, you don't work with anyone who don't follow the high standards. I saw chickens being thrown by staff and some of their limbs broken; I saw animals are contained in small areas. From that book, I read that you electrocute chickens in extremely small cages that are not well maintained to make egg production increase. Is this accurate?
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No. As you mention all suppliers that work with McDonald's must adhere to strict standards and procedures as well as McDonald's own Agricultural Assurance Programme which sets a maximum stocking density of 38 kg/m2. It is a requirement that the flocks are physically inspected several times a day to ensure that the welfare of the chickens is maintained right the way through their life cycle. McDonald’s UK supports that animals should be free from cruelty, abuse and neglect while embracing the proper treatment of animals and addressing animal welfare issues. Outside experts have helped McDonald’s develop systems to measure the effectiveness of animal welfare practices that are objective and measurable. McDonald’s will not work with any supplier that does not adhere to both the internal requirements created in conjunction with independent animal welfare experts alongside those required by UK and EU legislation.
(April 2010)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 4. How big is the space where the chickens are kept? Do people who work at McDonalds eat McDonalds?
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All chickens used by McDonald’s are raised under conditions that meet high standards monitored by the Assured Chicken Production regulations. The British Poultry Council also sets high standards for chicken welfare, which is monitored through a set of regulations called Assured Chicken Production (ACP). All suppliers that work with McDonald's must adhere to these standards and procedures as well as McDonald's own Agricultural Assurance Programme which sets a maximum stocking density of 38 kg/m2. It is a requirement that the flocks are physically inspected several times a day to ensure that the welfare of the chickens is maintained right the way through their life cycle.
With regards to your second question, there are a number of people working behind the Make Up Your Own Mind site. In general most of the team, including me, enjoy eating McDonald's on occasion, along with other foods.
(March 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 5. Are the chickens you use free range?
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Thank you for your thoughtful question. The chickens used for meat in McDonald’s products are called broilers, and are not free-range, but they are reared under conditions that meet high standards, monitored by the Assured Chicken Production regulations. The British Poultry Council also sets high standards for chicken welfare, which is monitored through a set of regulations called Assured Chicken Production (ACP). All suppliers that work with McDonald's must adhere to these standards and procedures as well as McDonald's own strict protocols. You may be interested to know that McDonald's is constantly monitoring the situation with regard to the use and availability of free range meat. There are huge differences in the costs of producing free range chickens, compared with more common farming systems. McDonald's UK has seriously looked at all the current available options, and currently there aren’t enough farms to supply the birds, and there just isn't enough land in the UK for all the chicken houses and fields required. In the meantime, McDonald's, like other responsible food businesses, is concentrating on working with producers and welfare experts to provide good welfare conditions for the birds that allow them to display their natural behaviour in comfortable surroundings. To this end the company is a co-sponsor of The Food Animal Initiative which is running a research project looking into the commercial viability of free-range chicken meat production.
(March 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 6. Do all the meat products come from farms which meet the RSPCA's Freedom Food recommendations (or similar if from abroad)?
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McDonald's has standards in place that are continually monitored to ensure that the slaughter of animals is carried out in a humane and compassionate manner by qualified personnel and under veterinary supervision. In addition McDonald's works with internationally renowned welfare experts, one of which is Temple Grandin, to ensure best practices are in place. Dr. Temple Grandin is a leader in innovative animal welfare research and animal handling practices and has helped McDonald's develop the slaughterhouse guidelines. She now oversees the auditor training for the company. Her guidance helps McDonald's and our suppliers make continual improvements in animal handling practices. McDonald's will not work with any supplier who does not adhere to high standards, and those required by UK and EU legislation. McDonald's UK only uses free-range eggs and works very closely with Freedom Foods and the RSPCA to ensure all of their egg producers work to a high level of animal welfare and are approved to Freedom Food standards. The free-range chicken market is a small specialist market which can't presently supply the large quantities that McDonald's UK would require. However McDonald's is a co-sponsor of The Food Animal Initiative, which is running a research project looking into the possibilities of commercially viable free-range chicken meat production. Currently, McDonald's work with their suppliers to enrich the environment for free range produce which includes initiatives such as providing additional shelter and planting trees so that the chickens can have a more comfortable and protected environment.
(Feb 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 7. In your cheese burgers is it 100% real and healthy meat and also are your animals kept in a nice spacious farm and not all cramped together?
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Yes all McDonald's hamburgers (and cheeseburgers) are made of 100 percent beef, which means 100 percent beef. Nothing but whole cuts of forequarter and flank (similar to the mince you'd buy in the supermarket). All that's added is a pinch of salt and pepper after cooking.
With regards to animal welfare, McDonald's believes that the welfare of animals is very important, and for that reason will not work with any supplier that does not adhere to its high standards, and those required by UK and EU legislation. The British Poultry Council also sets high standards of welfare in relation to the production of chickens, which is managed through a set of standards called Assured Chicken Production (ACP). McDonald’s and other food manufacturers subscribe to these, and expect the same high standards of their producers and farmers. You might also be interested to know that in 2008, McDonald’s was awarded an RSPCA Alternative Award for its commitment to improving animal welfare, within the ‘fast food’ category.
(Jan 09)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 8. Why are you so cruel with animals they did not do any thing to you. They are living breathing creatures to. You are the devil!
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The welfare of animal’s matters to McDonald's and the company knows it matters to you. For that reason McDonald's will not work with any supplier who does not adhere to the company's high standards, and those required by UK and EU legislation. In addition McDonald's works with internationally renowned welfare experts to ensure best practices are in place. People might also be surprised to hear that in 2008 McDonald's was awarded an RSPCA Award for its commitment to improving animal welfare in the ‘restaurant chain’ category.
To ensure that every step in the supply chain is monitored and that everyone lives up to these high standards, in 2002 the McDonald’s Agricultural Assurance Programme was set up. McDonald's encourages its suppliers to continually explore advances in animal rearing and husbandry and also to encourage their own suppliers to do the same. Beef cattle used for McDonald's meat in the UK are reared in the UK and Ireland. They are largely kept outdoors but may be kept undercover during the winter months. They’re fed a grass-based diet that is supplemented with cereals and cereal crops. The chickens are reared by UK and Brazilian suppliers, all of whom must adhere to the directives set out in the Assured Chicken Production (ACP) scheme, which controls all aspects of chicken farming including feed and animal welfare. You might like to look at the Quality Scout report now live on the site for a behind-the-scenes report on a McDonald's farm.
(Jan 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 9. Does McDonalds have any plans to start using free range chicken, as opposed to broiler meat? As a major player in the fast food market you could lead the way in this topical and extremely consumer sensitive issue. I am impressed that you use organic milk and free range eggs - so why not the chicken? A lot more people would eat in your restaurants if this were the case.
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Thank you for your question. McDonald’s is constantly reviewing the production methods of the poultry used for its chicken based food products. At the moment the market for free range chicken meat production is very small, and the cost therefore prohibitive. But McDonald’s is working closely with research organisations such as the Food Animal Initiative, who are developing alternative production methods for chicken which aim to provide a more welfare-friendly system on a large commercial scale. McDonald's is keen to work to encourage suppliers to keep innovating around welfare improvements. A Scout report on this site can give you more details on the Food Animal Initiative if you are interested.
(Jan 09)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 10. Hi, is it true that McDonalds doesn't use anaesthesia when castrating piglets? And if so, I hope the company realises that this is serious animal mistreatment and is planning to change this very soon.
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Thank you for your question. The pork that McDonald's use is produced to very high welfare standards. These Farm Assurance Standards are Assured British Pigs (ABP). The standards state that castration is not permitted.
(Dec 08)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 11. McDonald's has done so well for chicken welfare to move to free range eggs, and has the power to change the industry. Does it have any plans to do the same for the poultry industry in terms of chicken meat - if McDonalds decides that free range chickens are its target product, a whole industry will have to rethink its ethical position and will have to react to the huge demand placed on it by the McDonalds buyer. I would like to know whether you have plans to make this move. Thank you
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Thank you for your thoughtful question. The chickens used for meat in McDonald’s products are called broilers, and are not free-range, but they are reared under conditions that meet high standards, monitored by the Assured Chicken Production regulations. The British Poultry Council also sets high standards for chicken welfare, which is monitored through a set of regulations called Assured Chicken Production (ACP). All suppliers that work with McDonald's must adhere to these standards and procedures as well as McDonald's own strict protocols. You may be interested to know that McDonald's is constantly monitoring the situation with regard to the use and availability of free range meat. There are huge differences in the costs of producing free range chickens, compared with more common farming systems. McDonald's UK has seriously looked at all the current available options, and currently there aren’t enough farms to supply the birds, and there just isn't enough land in the UK for all the chicken houses and fields required. In the meantime, McDonald's, like other responsible food businesses, is concentrating on working with producers and welfare experts to provide good welfare conditions for the birds that allow them to display their natural behaviour in comfortable surroundings. To this end the company is a co-sponsor of The Food Animal Initiative which is running a research project looking into the commercial viability of free-range chicken meat production.
(Dec 2008)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 12. Why has there been plenty of visits to cattle farms, yet none to your chicken suppliers. I understand that you currently slaughter chickens at 6 weeks of age, by which point most birds are lame from their bones unable to cope with the rapid growth. Could you verify the averages of lame chickens on your farms for me? I would also be interested how much space per bird there is. As a keeper of chickens myself it would put my mind at ease to know.
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Thank you for your questions. With regards visits to chicken farms, when Make Up Your Own Mind was first set up the Quality Scouts started looking at the areas which have attracted the most interest, and beef is obviously a very important part of McDonald's business. We recognise however that the topic of chicken farms is one that people are very interested in, and we are looking to expand the role of Quality Scouts all the time. Please keep an eye on the site for future developments that open McDonald's up to scrutiny behind the scenes even further.
In response to your question regarding the welfare of chickens, whilst the chickens McDonald’s uses are indeed broilers, they are all raised under conditions that meet high standards monitored by the Assured Chicken Production regulations. The British Poultry Council also sets high standards for chicken welfare, which is monitored through a set of regulations called Assured Chicken Production (ACP). All suppliers that work with McDonald's must adhere to these standards and procedures as well as McDonald's own Agricultural Assurance Programme which sets a maximum stocking density of 38 kg/m2. It is a requirement that the flocks are physically inspected several times a day to ensure that the welfare of the chickens is maintained right the way through their life cycle. Within the McDonald's Agricultural Assurance Program (MAAP) it states that 'Any birds that have difficulty in reaching either feed or water due to leg problems or any other behavioural or physical abnormality must be removed without delay'. It is worth noting that this year McDonald's won the RSPCA Award for their commitment to improving animal welfare in the 'fast food' category. This demonstrates McDonald’s commitment as a responsible food business to working with producers and welfare experts to provide good welfare conditions for the birds that allow them to display their natural behaviour in comfortable surroundings.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 13. What percentage of the animals slughtered for all of you meat/ poultry/ fish based products is bred and slaughtered in the UK? Also, when you buy meat from abroad, how far do the animals have to travel before being slaughtered? Is it days, weeks or months. Finally, what conditions are the animals kept in when you but them from non EU countries, as the EU has the best animal welfare laws in the world, and some methods they use are still are cruel, unfair, long and disrespectful. Thanks
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Thank you for your question. Firstly, let’s be clear, the company does not condone factory farming or any abuse of animal welfare as stated in the McDonald’s Agriculture Assurance Programme. This includes the rearing, feeding, transportation, medication and husbandry of animals.
1) The percentage animals slaughtered in UK
McDonald's has a policy to source its ingredients locally wherever possible and in 2007 approximately 70 percent of the annual food spend is with suppliers from the British Isles.
2) Overseas travel conditions
The only meat that comes from abroad is chicken and fish. The fish is Hoki which is caught off the coast of New Zealand, filleted in New Zealand and then shipped for processing. A proportion of the chicken meat is sourced from Brazil and Thailand and the animals are transported to slaughter houses that are local to the farms.
3) Conditions & standards outside of EU
McDonald’s has standards in place that are continually monitored to ensure that the slaughter of animals is carried out in a humane and compassionate manner by qualified personnel and will not work with any supplier who does not adhere to high standards, and those required by UK and EU legislation. Any overseas suppliers, of course, must meet or exceed these stringent quality standards.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 14. I am vegetarian and i want to know the WHOLE truth, even if its nasty. Will you in the future at least TRY to have free range animals? Are your pigs castrated without any painkillers? Also, i have read up on the electric bolt and it only STUNS the animal, so the animal actually FEELS its throat being cut! Chickens are killed hanging upside down. Are they still conscience when they go into scalding water? Is every Mcdonalds in the Uk good with the animals? PLEASE tell me the truth.
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All McDonald's suppliers are required to follow strict animal welfare practices that ensure that animals are treated in a humane way, preventing any stress, pain or suffering. McDonald's will not work with any supplier who does not adhere to its high standards and those required by UK and EU legislation.
McDonald’s is constantly reviewing the production methods of the poultry used for its chicken based food products. At the moment the market for free range chicken meat production is very small, and the cost therefore prohibitive. There are also huge differences in the costs of producing free range chickens, compared with more common farming systems. McDonald's UK has seriously looked at all the current available options, and currently there aren’t enough farms to supply the birds, and there just isn't enough land in the UK for all the chicken houses and fields required. McDonald’s is however working closely with research organisations such as the Food Animal Initiative, who are developing alternative production methods for chicken which aim to provide a more welfare-friendly system on a large commercial scale.
Regarding the effective stunning of cattle, McDonald's require that only licensed operatives are allowed to perform the stunning, that the gun is maintained in full working order and that a back up gun is also to hand. If in the rare occasion the stun is not effective, a back up gun is immediately used and the incident recorded. These records are then inspected regularly to make sure that corrective action is taken to prevent a reoccurrence.
All of the pork used by McDonalds UK is sourced from Britain and due to the standards that the producers adhere to castration is not permitted.
(Dec 08)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 15. You talk a lot about animal welfare, but without any concrete answers. Anyone can say they treat their animals fairly and to their 'welfare standards', and much of it is subjective. What I'm asking is this: if I go into any UK McDonalds restaurant, what can I buy that I can be certain is free range meat/poultry, or at the very least, the RSPCA's 'Freedom Food' scheme?
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McDonald's believes that the welfare of animals is very important, and for that reason will not work with any supplier that does not adhere to its high standards, and those required by UK and EU legislation. Currently McDonald's uses free-range eggs and organic milk, but at this point in time does not use free-range meat. The company is very aware that some customers would like to see more free range and organic items appear on the menu. However, at the moment, free range and organic suppliers are relatively small specialist markets which can’t presently supply the large quantities that McDonald’s UK would require.
McDonald’s UK participates in a large number of farm assurance schemes. Among these are: Assured Chicken Production, Assured British Meats, Beef Quality Assurance Scheme, Quality Meats Scotland, Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assurance Scheme, Farm Assured Welsh Livestock, Assured Dairy Farms, Soil Association Farm Assurance, Organic Farmers & Growers, Lion Code, Freedom Foods and McDonald's Agricultural Assurance Programme (which include animal welfare standards). All eggs used within the Breakfast menu are produced on farms which meet RSPCA Freedom Foods Standards. You might also be interested to know that last year McDonald’s was awarded an RSPCA Good Business Award for its commitment to improving animal welfare, within the ‘restaurant’ category.
(September 2009)
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