Friday, 22 June 2012, 9:56 am Press Release: SPCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE22 June 2012

SPCA Agrees WithGreen Pary’s Appeal To McDonalds

The SPCA agrees with theGreen Party’s public request to McDonalds in new Zealandto set welfare standards for their porkproducts.

McDonalds have the ability to make a big impacton animal welfare due to the large quantities of productthey purchase. Changing their corporate policy to purchaseonly high welfare or cage-free products such as pork, eggsand chicken can improve the lives of millions ofanimals.

“Companies like McDonalds can change the faceof our farming in new Zealand,” says Juliette Banks,National Accreditation and Marketing Manager – SPCA BlueTick.

“85% of our hens are still being farmed inbattery cages and 99% of the pig industry is still usinginhumane methods such as sow stalls, farrowing crates andconcrete fattening pens.”

The SPCA runs a certificationscheme for farm animals in new Zealand known as the ‘BlueTick’, which is seen on products such as chicken, pork andeggs. the scheme is regularly audited against their highwelfare standards which are listed on their websiternzspca.org.nz/bluetick. the non-profit scheme wascreated to get animals out of cages and improve the welfareon farms.

“We also ask McDonalds, and indeed all otherfast food businesses, to step up and lead the way to helpimprove animal welfare in new Zealand.”

Ms Banks saysthey are incredibly happy with the growth of the SPCA BlueTick to date and would like to see the ‘Blue Tick’ onNew Zealand takeaway menus so that consumers can guaranteethey are eating a humanely farmed product.

Ends.

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