The Humane Society of the United States Becomes Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. Shareholder

The HSUS intends to use its stockholder position to help motivate CKE to move away from purchasing eggs from caged hens and pork from systems that confine breeding pigs to gestation crates.

Nearly all breeding pigs and egg laying hens used for Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.’s products are confined in crates or cages that prevent the animals from moving more than a few inches for most of their lives.

“Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. allows its suppliers to permanently confine animals in cages so small they can barely move,” said Matthew Prescott, food policy director for The HSUS. “It’s time the companies aligned themselves with the public’s expectations and values.”

CKE Restaurants operates more than 3,150 eateries nationwide. Carl’s Jr. is based in Carpinteria, Calif. and Hardee’s is based in St. Louis, Mo.

Facts:

• Eight U.S. states and the European Union have passed laws to phase out the extreme confinement of certain farm animals.
• Food industry consulting firm Technomic found that animal welfare is the third-most important social issue to American restaurant patrons, outranking the environment.
• More than 90 percent of egg-laying hens and 70 percent of breeding sows in the United States are confined in cages and crates so small that the animals can barely move more than a few inches for nearly their entire lives. Extensive scientific research confirms that this causes suffering. Renowned animal scientist Dr. Temple Grandin has stated, “I feel very strongly that we’ve got to treat animals right, and the gestation stalls have got to go.”
• Studies have shown that not confining animals in cages or crates may improve food safety.