New Scorecard Reveals Restaurant Chains Are Failing to Invest in Humane and Sustainable Food Systems

World Animal Protection Calls on Companies to Reduce Sourcing of Animal Products by 25% by 2030

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- World Animal Protection US, a global animal welfare non-profit organization, released a new scorecard, Moving the Menu 2022, ranking the 50 largest restaurant chains in the United States on their approach and progress toward improving the welfare of chickens raised for meat and breeding pigs in their supply chains by making good on past promises to eliminate some of the worst cruelty in factory farms, and reducing the predominance of animal products on their menus.

Moving the Menu revealed that most of the largest restaurant chains in the country are failing to invest in humane and sustainable food systems. No company has made reducing animal products a priority, despite how important it is for protecting our climate, public health, and billions of animals.

Key results of the assessment include:

• Well-known brands such as Domino's, Chick-Fil-A, Zaxby's, Wingstop, Little Caesars, Culver's, Chili's, Dairy Queen, Dunkin', Arby's, Five Guys, Jersey Mike's, Whataburger, Sonic, Olive Garden, and several others fall into the bottom rankings across all issues assessed. They have failed to adopt any meaningful pig or chicken welfare commitments or diversify their protein offerings.
• Very few restaurants have taken meaningful steps to increase plant-based protein offerings, and none have set clear goals to reduce animal products on their menus. 
• Some companies, such as KFC, McDonald's, and Jack in the Box that have tested new plant-based menu items for a limited time or in specific regions have either ended their offerings and/or not dedicated the resources needed to invest in their successful nationwide adoption.
• Companies like Panera, Starbucks, and Yum! Brands (parent brand of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut) have made commitments to increasing their plant-based offerings, but these have yet to materialize into additional permanent nationwide menu items.
• Big names like Popeyes, Subway, TGI Friday's, and Wendy's are ignoring the need to offer plant-based menu options or speak to their benefits in any of their public-facing materials.
• Approximately 4 out of 5 companies have not adopted the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) to improve the lives of chickens in their supply chains.
• Chipotle, Panera, and The Cheesecake Factory are the only three chains reporting some progress toward meeting their BCC commitments.
• Starbucks, Papa John's, Red Robin, TGI Friday's, Subway, and Jack in the Box are failing to report progress toward meeting their public BCC commitments. Restaurant Brands International (RBI, parent brand of Burger King and Popeyes) and Papa John's have weakened their prior BCC commitments and are not reporting any progress.
• Dunkin', Sonic, and Denny's have walked back their chicken welfare policies, removing their BCC commitments from public-facing materials. McDonald's and KFC are reporting progress toward weak chicken welfare policies that do not align with meaningful standards.
• Nearly all companies lack a meaningful commitment to eliminating gestation crates for pigs.
• Chipotle is the only chain meeting a meaningful commitment and setting a clear example that supply chains free from intensive confinement are achievable.
• The Cheesecake Factory has also shown significant progress toward its meaningful public commitment.
• TGI Friday's, Dunkin', Arby's, Sonic, Jack in the Box, Chili's, and CKE (parent brand of Hardee's and Carl's Jr.) have walked back their pig welfare policies, removing their original commitments from all public-facing materials.

Maha Bazzi, Farming Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection, US said, "Food companies cannot continue to ignore the devastating impact of factory farming on animals, people, and the environment. Not only must companies adopt meaningful animal welfare policies that eliminate cruel practices common on factory farms and publicly report on their progress, but they must simultaneously commit to reducing the centrality of animal products on their menus and prioritizing innovative plant-based options. Reducing their sourcing of animal products will better enable companies to meet their animal welfare promises while lowering the emissions in their supply chains."

World Animal Protection is calling on food companies to do better for farmed animals and the environment by committing to reducing their procurement of animal products by 25% by 2030, while continuing to ensure they eliminate the worst practices endured by animals in their supply chains.

Individuals can showcase their support by adding their name to World Animal Protection's petition and signing up for Meating Halfway, a personalized meat reduction journey.

The full Moving the Menu scorecard can be viewed here.

World Animal Protection
World Animal Protection is the global voice for animal welfare, with more than 70 years' experience campaigning for a world where animals live free from cruelty and suffering. 

We have offices in 12 countries and work across 47 countries. We collaborate with local communities, the private sector, civil society, and governments to change animals' lives for the better.

Our goal is to change the way the world works to end animal cruelty and suffering for both wild and farmed animals. Through our global food system strategy, we will end factory farming and create a humane and sustainable food system, that puts animals first. By transforming the broken systems that fuel exploitation and commodification, we will give wild animals the right to a wildlife. Our work to protect animals will play a vital role in solving the climate emergency, the public health crisis, and the devastation of natural habitats. 

For more information on World Animal Protection, visit: http://www.worldanimalprotection.us/

SOURCE World Animal Protection