Why did McDonald’s switch to cage-free eggs?

McDonald’s will use cage-free chicken eggs in its US restaurants. USA And Canada for the next decade, the company said on Wednesday.

Given the size of the company, this decision promises to accelerate the transition that egg producers have made to improve animal welfare for years. McDonald’s buys more than 2 billion eggs annually in the US alone. The USA, which is approximately 5% of the total number of eggs produced in the country.

The need for the happy chicken in McDonald’s 

Cage farms have been criticized by animal rights activists who describe them as inhumane. Chickens are generally housed in cages the size of an iPad to prevent them from spreading their wings. Even the cage-free standard has been questioned by animal rights activists, as this often means that chickens are processed in larger cages.

McDonald’s billed the measure to meet changing consumer demands and protect animal welfare. The company has struggled in recent years as consumers search for healthier options and other retailers offer them.

“Our decision to have eggs in cages only strengthens our focus on food quality and our menu to meet and exceed customer expectations,” McDonald’s President Mike Andres said in a press release.

Many of the major grocery providers, including Costco and General Mills, have announced plans to break free of the cages in recent years, but these statements do not have a specific timetable. Burger King, one of McDonald’s main competitors, said earlier this year that it will be cage-free by 2017. McDonald’s announcement on Wednesday indicated that the transition process would take place in the next 10 years.

The transition phase is always difficult, but the McDonald’s proper executions and the hard work of the staff have made it easier for McDonald’s.