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McDONALD'S "BUYS" THE RSPCA LOGO OF APPROVAL(cutting Sunday Mail by Jo Knowsley 25/11/01) The photo on the right immediately reminded me of the time Selwyn Gummer made his own child eat a beefburger to show there was no threat of BSE /CJD from them!!! |
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The RSPCA is allowing fast food chain McDonalds to stamp take-away cartons with its Freedom Food logo - which promises high standards of animal welfare. But the seal of approval - the first for a fast food outlet - has been condemned by critics who say the burger giant is likely to win praise from customers for food which has not necessarily been produced in humane conditions. John Robbins, campaigns consultant for Animal Concern, said "Research has shown that some Freedom Foods farms leave a lot to be desired. I hope the RSPCA is not sacrificingts principles in favour of commercial considerations and possible income generation." The newly designe cartons with the Freedom Food logo will be introduced gradually in all UK stores over the next month - initially only on products which include eggs> A McDonald's spokesman said "Free-range eggs are used across all stores and we are delighted that they conform with Freedom Food's high standards." A spokesman for teh RSPCA said "Freedom Food was launched with free-range eggs in 1994 and we have givengiven the stamp on a range of products. This is the first time we have given it to a fast food outlet but McDonalds meets all the conditions. The welfare of animals has always bewen, and wil always be, our prime concern" The charity is paid 4p for every 30 dozen eggs branded with the logo. In the case of McDonalds, which last yers used 80 million eggs in its burger products, this will generate an annual income of £9,000. But critics say money is not the biggest issue. Freedom Food, which now covers sheep, poultry, cattle and pigs promises its animals are free from fear, distress, pain, injury and disease and that they should be free to express normal behaviour. Undercover footage of some "approved" farms revealed aniamals in seeming distress. Chickens are still debeaked in what animal-rights supporters regard as a mindlessly cruel practice. Last month's BBC television's Watchdog showed a secret film which claimed to show secret film which claimed to show that some participants were failing to deliver promised "freedoms" And RSPCA officials were reported as saying the monitoring effort was inadequate, with only 28 assessors to cover nine million animals, A spokesman for Hillside Animal Welfare Sanctuary, a farm animal refige and leading campaign group said,"McDonalds has been a the forefront of a number of environmental concerns. It os a company the RSPCA shouls not be endorsing. We have also investigated Freedom Food and found animals living in squalor!" Click here to go to see Nicky Campbell's interview Click here to see where the eggs come from and the state of the site! Click here to return to RSPCA Atrocities page Cli k here to return to main index
NB Pledase note how on the Freedom Food video conducted by Nicky Campbell the RSPCA rep says that Freedom Foods has never been equated with FREE RANGE!! |
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