Damned By Praise

From the Janesville Gazzette, Tues.Jan 25, 2005, page 4B Guest Views

McDonald"s Corp., is "studying" whether to require "processors" to adopt a method of slaughter that is more "humane". This method would replace the oxygen in their facility with nitrogen, argon or carbon dioxide. It reduces panic and increases meat yield as there is less bruising and broken bones.

Now the birds are hung by their legs on a conveyer belt that pulls them through a vat of water charged with electricity. The charge is supposed to stun the birds before their throats are cut.

Workers have been exposed by PETA as having kicked stomped and smashed chickens against the walls of the plant.

In the editorial, the Chicago Tribune praises McDonalds for ordering egg suppliers to increase the size of cages and to stop starving the chickens and witholding water, practices designed to increase egg production.