MFA’s undercover investigation into Sparboe Farms, the fifth-largest egg producer in the country, not only prompted McDonald’s, Target, Sam’s Club and several other retailers to stop buying from the company, but has also garnered massive mainstream media attention and raised awareness among millions of people about the plights of hens exploited and killed for eggs.
The media maelstrom began with an exclusive story on Good Morning America, followed by more in-depth coverage on World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer and 20/20. From there, news of the shocking undercover investigation went viral and was covered by more than 2,000 media outlets worldwide. From national and international media juggernauts to local print, TV and radio stations across the country, here is a quick roundup of just some of that coverage:
Newspapers
- McDonald’s drops egg supplier over cruelty charges – Bloomberg Businessweek
- McDonald’s, Target drop egg supplier – The Associated Press
- Hen horror produces egg ban in US – The Australian
- McDonald’s egg supplier accused of animal abuse – Global Post
- McDonald’s dumps egg-supplier Sparboe – United Press International
- McDonald’s drops US egg supplier over farm cruelty – Agence France Press
- McDonald’s Cuts Ties With Egg Distributors – International Business Times
- Group says video shows abuse at egg producer – Des Moines Register
- McDonald’s drops egg supplier over animal cruelty report – Chicago Tribune
- McDonald’s in flap over chicken cruelty – Sydney Morning Herald
- McDonald’s, Target fire Minnesota egg company – Minneapolis Star Tribune
Television
- McDonald’s Eggs-istential Crisis – MSNBC
- Target, McDonalds To Stop Business With Sparboe Farms After Animal Abuse Investigation – WFMY News, North Carolina
- Iowa Egg Producer Dropped by McDonalds – WOI News, Des Moines
- McDonald’s & Target cuts ties with egg producer – KTNV, Las Vegas
- McDonalds dumps egg supplier after hidden camera video shows cruelty, safety concerns – WGN News, Chicago
- Target Scrambling to Find New Egg Supplier Days Before Thanksgiving – NBC, Dallas-Fort Worth
- McDonald’s, Target drops egg supplier – WBIR News, Knoxville
- Animal Cruelty Claims Cause Egg Shortage Thanksgiving Week – Fox News, Kansas City
- Where Does Your Egg McMuffin Come From? – ABC News
Although all of the cruelty to hens and young chicks inflicted by Sparboe for McDonald’s restaurants is unnecessary and intolerably cruel, subjecting intelligent and social animals to a lifetime of confinement in tiny wire battery cages so small they are unable to freely spread their wings, perch or roost, breathe fresh air, see the sun or do nearly anything that comes naturally to them is perhaps the cruelest form of institutionalized animal abuse in existence. Unfortunately, more than 95 percent of eggs in this country come from battery-caged hens.
Instead of merely sidestepping the issue of egregious abuse at one of its primary Egg McMuffin suppliers and switching to another egg supplier with equally cruel practices, McDonald’s needs to require all of its suppliers to uncage hens and finally give these animals the basic freedom to spread their wings, walk, and engage in basic natural behaviors. Please click here to urge McDonald’s to end its use of eggs from hens confined in battery cages.
As MFA works to expose and end the exploitation of animals at the hands of the meat, egg and dairy industries, consumers still hold the greatest power of all to prevent needless suffering of farmed animals by adopting a healthy and humane vegan diet. Visit ChooseVeg.com for great-tasting recipes and helpful tips for making the transition to a vegan lifestyle.
