In what many animal welfare advocates describe as a “historic advance,” Burger King has announced that they will begin buying 2% of their eggs and 10% of their pork from suppliers that do not confine their animals in cages and crates. The decision will apply to the US and Canada.

Food marketing experts and animal welfare advocates predict that the shift will put pressure on other restaurant and food companies to adopt similar practices.

"The fact that Burger King has made positive changes for some of the animals killed for its restaurants will send a ripple effect through the fast food industry," said PETA spokesman Matt Prescott. It will show other companies that animal welfare "cannot be ignored."

Burger King has also been a pioneer with its BK Veggie burger available since 2001. In Canada, this burger is made by Sol Cuisine and is vegan. The U.S. version contains egg whites. Their French fries are vegan. For more information see our Fast Food Report.

The company will start by requiring that 2 percent of its eggs come from hens who are not confined to battery cages, and 10 percent of its pork come from farms that allow sows to move around inside pens, rather than being confined to crates. They will also start rewarding suppliers that use "controlled atmosphere killing" (by far the most humane method available) instead of by electric shock which has a high failure rate and often ends up in chickens moving half-alive though the processing line, and being plunged into the scalding tank to remove feathers.

Burger King has told its suppliers that if they provide eggs from caged-free hens they will get a better deal. The firm said it hopes to expand the market for such eggs as more farmers shift to these methods and more competitively priced supplies become available.

Burger King’s decision is a departure from the politically incorrect image it has cultivated in recent years. Their commercials have made fun of “chick food” and promoted super-sized omelet sandwiches and a triple Whopper with cheese. For example, see their “I am man” ad on YouTube.

More info: See Ethicurian’s in depth coverage.
Related: 'Organic', 'free-range' – What do the egg labels mean?
The plight of egg-laying chickens in Canada