The Humane Society of the United States is one of several organizations who have lobbied the restaurant industry to improve animal welfare practices in the supply chain. The animal welfare group has taken its efforts a step further by purchasing stock in Jack in the Box Inc. HSUS also has purchased stock in casual dining hybrid brand Steak 'n Shake for the same purpose.
The HSUS intends to use its stockholder position to move the companies away from egg suppliers that confine hens in cages and pork suppliers that keep breeding pigs in crates. The HSUS will also encourage Jack in the Box to influence its poultry suppliers to switch from their current slaughter system to controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK), which has been shown to greatly improve animal welfare.
"Jack in the Box's complete lack of meaningful movement on animal welfare puts the company at odds with its competition and public opposition to farm animal abuse," said Matthew Prescott, corporate outreach director for The HSUS's factory farming campaign, in a news release.
Jack in the Box did not respond to a request for a response. The company also owns fast casual chain Qdoba Mexican Grill.
