McDonald's praised for crate-free pork pledge

The American Humane Association, a 135-year-old animal welfare group, has praised the fast food giant McDonald's for pledging not to serve pork raised in tiny crates. "Millions of pigs spend their lives in crates that are inhumanely small and do not allow them to move freely and express their natural behaviors," American Humane Association President and CEO Robin Ganzert said in a statement. "This leadership on the part of McDonald's will not only advance the welfare of millions of animals but will most likely encourage other food service providers and retailers to follow suit." The group added, however, that "the adoption of loose housing systems for sows requires not only new equipment but also training of workers and managers to handle animals humanely." Last November, McDonald's severed ties with one of its American egg suppliers after a video taken by undercover animal rights activists exposed shocking cruelty to chickens at a farm. McDonald's operates more than 33,000 restaurants in 119 countries, and serves nearly 68 million people per day.