McDonald’s Sets Deadline for Gestation Crate Ban

After announcing in February that it intends to eliminate gestation crates in its US pork supply, fast-food giant McDonald’s has unveiled a new 10-year plan to phase out the cruel housing systems. On Thursday, the company said its pork suppliers must comply with the ban by 2022, adding that in the next five years, it hopes to source exclusively from companies working to discontinue their usage of the crates. Paul Shapiro, vice president of farm animal protection for the Humane Society of the United States, applauded the decision despite its lengthy timeframe. “We wish the company planned to get rid of these crates tomorrow, but we understand the logistical challenges involved in making such significant improvements,” he says.