McDonald’s to make treatment of pigs slightly less cruel

For years, animal rights activists have insisted that “gestational crates”—the small boxes used to confine pregnant pigs—are unspeakably cruel. And for years, McDonald’s has responded with, “Shut up and eat your McRib.” Well, not exactly. Now, the restaurant corporation has announced it is working with suppliers to begin phasing out the crates, which have been blamed for giving pigs urinary tract infections and a host of other problems that typically accompany solitary confinement. The problem is, keeping pigs is a tricky business, as they’ll often compete for food and space (one solution to the problem even involves embedding a microchip in pigs’ ears). And pessimists will surely note, as the New York Times does, that “McDonald’s buys just one per cent of the total pork produced in the country.” The Times also points out that of the United States’ five million breeding pigs, between 60 and 70 per cent are held in these crates. Still, McDonald’s is a massive corporation, and when they make a move—even a minor one like this—the competition often follows suit. Read the entire story [New York Times] »