Animal Friends Jogja Advocates for Cage-Free Commitment for McDonald’s
(Yogyakarta, May 31, 2024) – In a powerful display of advocacy, fourteen animal protection activists from Animal Friends Jogja (AFJ) took to the streets in front of the McDonald’s Sudirman Store.
Dressed in costumes and holding posters, the activists staged a protest to pressure McDonald’s Indonesia to show concern for the welfare of laying hens by committing to go cage-free.
McDonald’s Indonesia Lags Behind Competitors in Animal Welfare
McDonald’s Indonesia has fallen far behind its competitors in implementing higher animal welfare standards. Even compared to other McDonald’s branches worldwide, they have yet to adopt the same animal welfare standards.
In countries like Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Australia, McDonald’s has committed to improving the welfare of laying hens in their supply chain by going cage-free. However, McDonald’s Indonesia has not made a similar commitment.
One of the activists held a poster with the phrase “They’re Not Lovin’ It,” depicting the distressing conditions of laying hens in battery cages. Two activists were seen wearing chicken costumes with feather loss and wounds on their bodies. One held a large egg filled with blood and dirt, while the other crouched in a cage, symbolizing the suffering of laying hens in battery cages.
Expert Calls for Change
Dhiani Probhosiwi, the Farmed Animals Advocacy Campaign Manager of AFJ, emphasized McDonald’s Indonesia’s potential to make positive changes in their supply chain. She highlighted that McDonald’s is falling behind competitors like Burger King, Pizza Hut, and KFC in adopting higher animal welfare standards.
The activists’ main demand was for McDonald’s Indonesia to announce its commitment to going cage-free, aligning with the global movement towards more ethical treatment of animals.
The Cruelty of Battery Cages
Battery cages do not align with the five freedoms of animals set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Laying hens are confined in small cages for up to two years, leading to high levels of stress and frustration.
The cramped conditions prevent natural behaviors and can result in physical injuries like bone fractures and feather loss. The toxic atmosphere in battery cages, caused by ammonia fumes from accumulated waste, can lead to eye burns, respiratory diseases, and respiratory infections that may cause blindness.
Call to Action
The activists’ symbolic gesture of presenting a large egg covered in blood and dirt with the message “Go Cage-Free, McDonald’s!” aimed to shed light on the plight of laying hens in battery cages. However, McDonald’s refusal to commit to going cage-free reflects their lack of interest in improving the welfare of laying hens in their supply chain.
Despite public pressure and consumer demands, McDonald’s Indonesia has yet to show any willingness to enhance the well-being of laying hens, leaving animal advocates and consumers frustrated with their inaction.
