FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 June 2012

SPCA Agrees With Green Pary's Appeal To McDonalds

The SPCA agrees with the Green Party’s public request to McDonalds in New Zealand to set welfare standards for their pork products.

McDonalds have the ability to make a big impact on animal welfare due to the large quantities of product they purchase. Changing their corporate policy to purchase only high welfare or cage-free products such as pork, eggs and chicken can improve the lives of millions of animals.

“Companies like McDonalds can change the face of our farming in New Zealand,” says Juliette Banks, National Accreditation and Marketing Manager – SPCA Blue Tick.

“85% of our hens are still being farmed in battery cages and 99% of the pig industry is still using inhumane methods such as sow stalls, farrowing crates and concrete fattening pens.”

The SPCA runs a certification scheme for farm animals in New Zealand known as the ‘Blue Tick’, which is seen on products such as chicken, pork and eggs. The scheme is regularly audited against their high welfare standards which are listed on their website www.rnzspca.org.nz/bluetick. The non-profit scheme was created to get animals out of cages and improve the welfare on farms.

“We also ask McDonalds, and indeed all other fast food businesses, to step up and lead the way to help improve animal welfare in New Zealand.”

Ms Banks says they are incredibly happy with the growth of the SPCA Blue Tick to date and would like to see the ‘Blue Tick’ on New Zealand takeaway menus so that consumers can guarantee they are eating a humanely farmed product.

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