McDonald's drops egg supplier after animal cruelty footage

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45358654/ns/business-retail/#.TshP33KOu8s

By Alise Blunk
updated 11/19/2011 5:05:13 AM ET

McDonald's will be looking for a new egg supplier for their McMuffins after Mercy For Animals released footage from an undercover investigation of animal cruelty at Sparboe Egg Farms, one of their suppliers.

After viewing the footage, McDonald's said in an issued statement that they would no longer be accepting their eggs from Spargoe, and said "the behavior on tape is disturbing and completely unacceptable."

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The hidden-camera footage shows hens being crammed into wire cages, workers burning the beaks of young chicks without pain killers, live chicks thrown into plastic bags and workers tormenting the animals.
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The president and owner of Sparboe issued a letter on the website saying they are launching an internal investigation and management changes have taken place. They said they have identified four employees involved in the activities, and they have been terminated.

MFA urged the McDonald's Corporation to end its use of eggs from hens in battery cages, and according to their website, there are no federal laws that provide protection for the birds at the factory farm or during slaughter.

Mercy For Animals is a national non-profit organization that works toward preventing cruelty to farm animals.

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