RSPCA Approved chicken now at Macca’s

3rd March 2021 | Eativity editors

The RSPCA has welcomed the news that as of February this year, all chicken used by McDonald’s Australia will now be sourced from higher welfare RSPCA Approved farms.

RSPCA Australia CEO Richard Mussell says the move by McDonald’s will have a profound impact on the lives of millions of Australian meat chickens every year.

“For chickens to have a good quality of life, they need an environment that meets their physical and behavioural needs,” he says. “By sourcing from farms participating in the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme, McDonald’s Australia is showing a strong commitment to animal welfare and supporting farming practices that are raising the bar for animal welfare.”

Being RSPCA Approved means the chicken has come from farms where birds are raised to the RSPCA’s detailed animal welfare standards. The standards are based on animal welfare science, RSPCA policy and leading farming practices in Australia and overseas.

In addition, RSPCA Approved farms undergo a robust certification process, which includes regular on-farm assessments. Brands sourcing from RSPCA Approved farms have traceability systems in place to trace product from point of sale right back to the farm.

Mussell says that the announcement by McDonald’s Australia is a result of a decade-long collaboration with the RSPCA: “The RSPCA has been assisting McDonald’s Australia for a decade in their efforts to improve animal welfare in their supply chains,” he says. “As part of this, the majority of farms linked to McDonald’s key chicken suppliers have been participating in the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme for a number of years.”

Chickens need to perform natural behaviours, such as dust bathing.

The announcement of RSPCA Approved chicken at McDonald’s follows the mega-brand’s transition to cage-free eggs in 2017. But at the end of the day, Mussell says it’s the consumer who can really make all the difference.

“By choosing food farmed to higher welfare standards at home and dining out, everyday Australians are having a big impact on the future of how animals are farmed,” he says.

You can find out more about the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme by visiting rspcaapproved.org.au