OAKBROOK, Ill.—McDonald’s announced it has severed ties with Sparboe Egg Farms, the sole supplier of fresh eggs to the fast-food giant’s restaurants west of the Mississippi River, after an undercover ABC News “20/20" investigation exposed horrific animal abuse at the egg supplier’s facilities.
The “20/20" investigation was examining will air tonight, Nov. 18. In its statement provided to ABC News, McDonald's said its decision was based on concerns about "the management of Sparboe facilities." “McDonald's expects all of our suppliers to meet our stringent requirements for delivering high quality food prepared in a humane and responsible manner," the company said.
The undercover footage recorded at Sparboe Egg Farms in Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado revealed hens crammed in cages so small they can't fully stretch their wings; dead birds left to rot in cages with hens still laying eggs for human consumption; workers throwing hens, breaking their necks, burning off their beaks without painkillers and suffocating them.
On Nov. 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Sparboe Egg Farms citing “serious" and “significant violations" at five different locations. FDA cited at least 13 violations of the recently enacted federal egg rule enacted to prevent Salmonella outbreaks such as the 2010 Salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 1,000 people.
