Dunkin' Donuts Making Changes to Help Animal Welfare

Photo via Dunkin’ Donuts/Facebook

By Les Masterson (Patch staff)

Canton-based Dunkin’ Donuts announced on Monday that it is transitioning to 100 percent cage-free eggs and crate-free pork as a way to help animal welfare.

The chain said 100 percent of all eggs that are used in breakfast sandwiches in the U.S. will be cage-free by the end of 2016. The crate-free pork goal is 2022.

Dunkin’ Donuts, which has seven locations in Waltham, made the announcement with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The chain said it is ”working with its suppliers and the HSUS to update its animal welfare policy and meet its target goals.”

“Dunkin’ Brands and our franchisee community care about the welfare of animals and their humane treatment. We set a goal to source 5 percent cage-free eggs by 2013, an accomplishment we are proud to have achieved. Now, working with our suppliers and the Humane Society of the United States, we are setting new commitments to help the egg and pork industries eliminate cages to demonstrate our responsibility to animal welfare and sustainable, ethical sourcing,” said Christine Riley Miller, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Dunkin’ Brands.

“Dunkin’s commitment to improve the lives of farm animals is taking another positive step. This new policy is further testament that consumers and companies are aligned in shifting the egg and pork industries away from confining animals in cages,” said Josh Balk, senior food policy director of HSUS.