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McDonald's free-range snub
23 April 2010
FAST food giant McDonald's will continue to snub free-range eggs.
The move has angered the RSPCA and comes as the US arm of the food chain rejected a move for 5 per cent of its eggs to come from cage-free farming.
McDonald's Australia has confirmed to The Weekly Times it has assessed a move to cage-free eggs but decided against it - for now.
Some confusion on the issue had been created last year when false reports circulated suggesting the fast food chain had switched to free-range eggs.
McDonald's spokeswoman Amy Lawrence said customer research had shown McDonald's patrons wanted cage-free eggs.
But customers were unable or unwilling to pay the premium associated with the move.
"Cage-free systems are not an immediate priority for our business," Ms Lawrence said.
Free Range Egg and Poultry Association of Australia president Ivy Inwood said cost was the only issue for McDonald's.
"If it was as cheap as a cage egg then no problem, they'd do it - but they aren't prepared to pay for it," Mrs Inwood said.
"I think every customer you ask would prefer free-range over cage."
If growers lowered their free-range prices to the level large retailers wanted, they would have to "lock the chooks up and have automated equipment," Mrs Inwood said.
RSPCA Victoria president Dr Hugh Wirth said the RSPCA was "disappointed" with McDonald's attitude and called on the chain to be a leader on the issue.
"No doubt the community has shifted quite considerably in the last two years," Dr Wirth said.
"Consumers are anxious to know they're eating something wholesome and that ... it has been produced humanely."
Animal welfare organisations around the world considered cage-egg farming inhumane, he said.
Dr Wirth also called for legal definitions of cage, barn and free-range to be legislated.
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