November 19th, 2011
05:37 PM ET

McDonald's, Target drop egg supplier after animal cruelty report

McDonald's and Target dropped an egg supplier this week after an activist group released disturbing video showing what it says shows animal cruelty at three of the company's barns.

The undercover video, released by Mercy for Animals, was allegedly shot between May and August at facilities run by Sparboe Farms in Colorado, Iowa and Minnesota. It shows hens crammed in crowded cages, workers burning beaks and one, trying to shove a bird inside the pocket of a co-worker, apparently for fun. Another worker presses his thumb against the back of a chick's neck until it breaks.

"Regarding the undercover videos, the behavior on tape is disturbing and completely unacceptable. McDonald's wants to assure our customers that we demand humane treatment of animals by our suppliers. We take this responsibility - along with our customers' trust - very seriously. It's important to note that the most alarming actions on video did not occur at Sparboe's Vincent, Iowa, facility that supplies McDonald's. Nonetheless, our extremely high standards for our suppliers prohibit this conduct," McDonald's said in a statement, announcing its decision to cut ties with Sparboe Farms.

Target similarly said it was dropping Sparboe Farms, which describes itself as the fifth-largest shell egg producer and marketer in the United States.

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Filed under: Animals • Colorado • Fast Food • Food • Iowa • Minnesota
soundoff (68 Responses)
  1. Farmer Scoop

    Those poor delicious chickens don't need tenderizin'. Let em et the feed in peace.

    November 19, 2011 at 5:42 pm | Report abuse |
  2. gung hoe

    Wish I could get ahold of them workers,wonder if that made them feel like men!!

    November 19, 2011 at 5:45 pm | Report abuse |
  3. gung hoe

    @mmmm FACEPALM TIMES 2

    November 19, 2011 at 5:47 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      look you turtle egg lover I didn't say I support these neck breakin' antics...but the word tenderizing did put me over the edge...

      November 19, 2011 at 5:52 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Mmmmm

    Tarjay is just a better lookin walmart alotta goods imported from china and their customer service department resides in bollyland india...so much for supporting american economy...

    November 19, 2011 at 5:48 pm | Report abuse |
  5. banasy©

    Tarjay, Mmmmmm? Are you French?

    November 19, 2011 at 6:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      Oui, je suis français comme frites françaises couvertes avec de la moutarde jaune, M. Français!

      November 19, 2011 at 6:36 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Mmmmm

    Sparboe:

    Special
    Pranks
    Raype
    Abuse
    Beatdown
    Of
    Eggs

    November 19, 2011 at 6:11 pm | Report abuse |
  7. banasy©

    Rire aux Ă©clats.

    November 19, 2011 at 6:51 pm | Report abuse |
  8. gung hoe

    @mmmm look first off Iam no turtle egg lover second of all you wermt specific all you did was LOL so with you not changing subjects that would mean you were applying what you said to subject.Maxby your name should be frenchy fry

    November 19, 2011 at 6:59 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Sharon McEachern

    My family spends a lot more money to get Free Range eggs. When enough people are willing to do that, the egg producers will gladly change their nasty ways. Often ethics come down to money. Ethic Soup has two good posts on this subject:

    http://www.ethicsoup.com/2010/11/horrific-death-chicken-farms-plan-to-pulverize-live-chickens-in-grinder.html

    And California's caged chicken law:

    http://www.ethicsoup.com/2008/11/controversial-caged-chicken-ban-passed-by-landslide-in-california.html

    November 19, 2011 at 7:00 pm | Report abuse |
  10. bobcat (in a hat)

    But when everybody starts buyin the free range eggs, the price of those eggs will be expotentially higher, pricing you and everyone else out of the market.
    Hey, you got to break a couple eggs to make an omelet.

    November 19, 2011 at 7:05 pm | Report abuse |
  11. chrissy

    lol @ gung hoe, good one on the frenchy fry!

    November 19, 2011 at 7:08 pm | Report abuse |
  12. banasy©

    That's odd you would say that, guys, because that's loosly what Mmmm *did* say in her French post....

    November 19, 2011 at 7:12 pm | Report abuse |
  13. banasy©

    Georgecat (in a hat):
    It's hard enough to find free-range chicken here, without trying to find the eggs, too; I think you are correct that fre's would go up dramatically in price.

    November 19, 2011 at 7:14 pm | Report abuse |
  14. banasy©

    Loosely, I meant, in my 7:12 post.

    November 19, 2011 at 7:19 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Mmmmm

    facepalm with the middle finger you guys...what I clearly indicated is that I am american...y'all are sooo nasty...so so bad too!

    November 19, 2011 at 7:23 pm | Report abuse |
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