Wendy's Starts Using a Few Cage-Free Egg, Why?

Wendy's to begin using eggs from cage-free chickens
26 May 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After lengthy discussions with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Wendy's has announced that it is starting to use eggs from cage-free hens. The new policy marks a significant advancement in The HSUS' national campaign against cruel and inhumane confinement of egg-laying hens.

Previously, all eggs that Wendy's used came from hens confined in "battery cages." Now the chain is using a minimum of 2 percent of cage-free eggs.

Retailers such as Quizno's, Burger King, Hardee's and Carl's Jr. also use eggs from cage-fee hens. McDonald's announced last week that it is entering a study to examine housing alternatives for egg-laying hens in the United States, including cage-free housing.

At the McDonald's annual meeting May 27, a HSUS representative will urge shareholders to approve its resolution asking the company to start switching to eggs laid by cage-free hens. Link

For several years, Wendy’s rightfully saw no benefit to using cage-free eggs. Even after HSUS took out full page ads in newspapers urging people to call Wendy’s, they got as many calls against using cage free eggs as were in support of the switch. So after all that, it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that during the same week McDonalds is under fire for wanting to study the issue, that Wendy’s finally agrees to purchase a tiny amount of cage-free eggs. Politics trumps policy every time and apparently that is what happened here.

PETA takes aim at Wendy's (Again)

PETA Challenges Triarc to Change Wendy's Practices
2008-04-29 —

PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk sent the following letter to Triarc's CEO Roland Smith and Chair Nathan Peltz today challenging the Atlanta-based company to improve Wendy's animal practices:

"Dear Messrs. Smith and Peltz:

I'm writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 1.8 million members and supporters worldwide regarding your purchase of Wendy's.

I know that there are many people unhappy with this purchase, but I want you to know that those of us at PETA who have been nudging Wendy's to eliminate the worst abuses of the animals raised and killed for its restaurants are relieved. Perhaps now, Wendy's will make some long-overdue progress on this issue. Read More

PETA is apparently still stinging from their failed efforts to have Wendy’s use cage free eggs. Back in February, PETA placed ads in newspaper urging people to call Wendy’s and tell them to switch. Wendy’s ended up getting more calls against the switch, and chose not do change anything.