Thursday, March 29, 2007

THINK BIG: Burger King is 2% Nicer to Chickens, 10% Nicer to Pigs

In what animal-welfare advocates are describing as a "historic advance," Burger King, the world's second-largest hamburger chain, said Tuesday that it would begin buying eggs and pork from suppliers that did not confine their animals in cages and crates.

The company said that it would also favor suppliers of chickens that use gas, or "controlled-atmospheric stunning," rather than electric shocks, to knock birds unconscious before slaughter. It is considered a more humane method, though only a few slaughterhouses use it.

The goal for the next few months, Burger King said, is for 2 percent of its eggs to be "cage-free," and for 10 percent of its pork to come from pig farms that allow sows to move around inside pens, rather than being confined to crates.

The company said those percentages would rise as more farmers shift to these methods and more competitively priced supplies become available. Basically, they'll do more of it when it becomes profitable. The world is a funny place, I tell ya.

Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States, said Burger King's initiatives put them ahead of their competitors in terms of animal welfare.

"That's an important trigger for reform throughout the entire industry," Pacelle said.
Burger King's announcement is the latest success for animal-welfare advocates.

This is certainly a step in the right direction. And, quite frankly, I'm sick of hearing about trans fats. I bore easily.

[source]

10 comments:

xine said...

This whole issue confuses me.

The nice xine says "aww, this is sweet and thoughtful" and the nasty xine says "they're going to fucking die anyway, who cares?"

As long as the meat doesn't represent the animal it once belonged to, I'm cool. Otherwise, I won't consume. I also won't consume dried/canned meat or fish. You have no idea how long that animal has been dead. gross. UGH. I just grossed myself out. I'm going to have to eat salad for a week now. Damn, I hate thinking about this stuff.

Anonymous said...

ok, im so veg again. DAMN.

Anonymous said...

As long as the meat doesn't represent the animal it once belonged to, I'm cool.

Huh? In what world does meat "represent" anything? Is English your first language? What are you trying to say? I really want to know.

xine said...

Aw, it’s ok. Why the grumpy disposition? You just need to brush up on the vocab a little. I’ll work through this with you…

Represent
Function: verb
1.to form an image or representation of in the mind

Another word I could’ve used:

Resemble
Function: transitive verb
1.to be like or similar to or to represent as like

For example, a hamburger patty does not in any way look like a cow. Therefore, I can mentally disconnect the fact that I’m eating a cow and enjoy my burger. However, a chicken leg looks like a leg, therefore, I’m totally grossed out and I’m unable to eat the leg. So, in conclusion – in this world, meat can represent something.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love vocabulary lessons! I was great at them in school. Let me play!

Meat
Function: noun
The flesh of animals used for food.

In that the "flesh of animals" is not the animal itself, I'm pretty sure that sometimes does represent an animal (i.e. a chicken leg.) And sometimes it doesn't. In fact, the way I learned it, anything can be a representation of anything else, depending on its presentation.

I thought xine was pretty clear...and like I said, I was great at vocab!

dino said...

Another vocab lesson...

1. Vocabulary Nazi

A person who purposely uses large words, and speaks very articulate, as a way to out show the people within his surroundings. Usually thinks they're better than everyone else because they use large words that no one has ever heard of. The words are usually learned from their vocabulary book in high school.

dino said...

p.s. leave xine alone.

xine said...

I don't think ANON 3/29/2007 06:17:00 PM is a vocabulary Nazi because they don't even understand the simple, three-syllable word "represent". Every other word they wrote consisted of two syllables or less which generally fall within the first or second grade level.

I like these vocabulary lessions. We should do this more often.

Anonymous said...

OMG you people are evil. ...and smart. I love it.

Anonymous said...

ohh i love it when randoms come out all crazy on here. love you, bitches.