In the slaughterhouses of McDonald's U.S. chicken suppliers, birds are dumped out of their transport crates and hung upside-down in metal shackles, which can result in broken bones, extreme bruising, and hemorrhaging. Workers have the opportunity to abuse live birds, and birds have their throats cut while they are still conscious. Many birds are immersed in tanks of scalding-hot water while they are still alive and able to feel pain.
In 2000, following the launch of PETA's (original) McCruelty campaign, McDonald's made some basic animal welfare improvements. Since that time, the company has refused to eliminate the worst abuses that its chickens suffer in the U.S., including abuses during slaughter. This cruelty would be illegal if dogs or cats%u2014or even pigs or cows%u2014were the victims. Since we can't stop McDonald's from killing their animals altogether, we can suggest that the birds be dealt with in a more humane way that causes less pain for the birds by using CAK (controlled atmosphere killing). To learn more about CAK, visit peta2.com.
We the undersigned, were shocked to learn that McDonald's knows (through your own investigation and the experience that your European suppliers have) that controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK) could eliminate the worst abuses your chickens suffer, yet you refuse to require that your suppliers in the U.S. and in Canada adopt this slaughter method.
Please require your suppliers to switch to CAK immediately so that the birds they kill will no longer suffer broken limbs, abuse by workers, having their throats cut while they are still conscious, or being scalded to death in defeathering tanks.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.
