OAK BROOK, Ill. — McDonald's USA is entering into a commercial-scale study along with leading animal welfare scientists, academics, non-government organizations (NGOs) and egg suppliers of housing alternatives for egg-laying hens in the United States, including cage-free housing, the company has announced.
The study, which expects to involve tens of thousands of hens, will look at the sustainability impacts of different laying hen housing environments on animal health and well-being, safe and affordable food, the environment and worker welfare. The eggs produced during this study are expected to be used in McDonald's U.S. restaurants, provided they meet stringent food safety and quality standards.
The research is being led by Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). Along with McDonald's, the multi-stakeholder coalition advising the study includes the American Humane Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, USDA's Agricultural Research Service, Cargill Inc., and the Center for Food Integrity.
The goal of the study is to understand the viability of alternate housing systems in the United States, including cage-free and "enriched housing," which includes nests and perches, as well as the housing environments used by McDonald's current supply system in the United States, which adheres to McDonald's strict laying hen standards. Another goal is to provide scientific-based research that will assist McDonald's and other companies in making more informed decisions on sustainable egg purchases, taking into account their independent company values and business needs.
"Globally, McDonald's supports cage and cage-free housing as long as they meet our animal welfare guiding principles," said Bob Langert, McDonald's vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility. "And, with the Coalition's research, we will have science-based egg sustainability facts to guide our decisions towards promoting continuous improvement in these important areas."
Research on the design and infrastructure of the study has begun in conjunction with MSU and UC Davis. The timeline and costs are being determined, as well as standards for each housing type, with input from participating experts.
"A thorough understanding of the full range of sustainability factors regarding hen housing is an important goal of this project," said Dr. Janice Swanson, MSU. "The Coalition anticipates a multi-year study to factor in seasonal shifts, bird lifecycles, and other factors."
