McDonald's has just taken the most drastic step yet in its ongoing effort to overhaul its brand image.
The fast food giant has just announced that they plan to stop serving eggs farmed from chickens raised in chickens. The company says that by 2025, all eggs served at McDonald's 16,000 branches in the United States and Canada will be 100% cage free.
According to the New York Times, McDonalds USA purchases some two billion eggs a year while the Canadian arm uses around 120 million per anuum. Their consumption accounts for approximately 4% of the 43.56 billion eggs produced in the United States. This shift to a strictly cage-free supply of eggs will no doubt have a huge impact on how they are grown today.
In the company's official announcement, McDonalds USA President Mike Andres says:
"Our customers are increasingly interested in knowing more about their food and where it comes from, Our decision to source only cage-free eggs reinforces the focus we place on food quality and our menu to meet and exceed our customers' expectations."
Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer Marion Gross is confident that the company can provide adequate supply and believes this move is proof of the company's commitment to animal rights.
"Animal welfare has always been important to us and our customers," she says. "Today's announcement is another big milestone building on our work with industry experts and suppliers to improve the treatment of animals."
It's certainly a landmark moment for the egg industry.
This decision comes right on the heels of the company's new all-day breakfast venture. McDonald's now offers select items from its breakfast menu at any time of the day. This decision will no doubt increase the amount of eggs they consume.
