UNITED STATES-ANIMAL WELFARE-
The Quiznos sandwich chain said Tuesday it has adopted a new animal-welfare policy for the eggs, pork and turkey it buys.
The Denver-based chain said it came up with the policy in conjunction with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Quiznos will buy more eggs from cage-free chickens, more pork raised in crate-free environments and more turkeys that are killed using a method that PETA described as more humane.
The changes will be phased in. The policy says Quiznos will buy 4 percent of its eggs this year from producers who don’t put chickens in cramped cages, with a goal of raising that to 10 percent in five years. The chain also removed eggs from three of its four cookies on the menu.
About 1 percent of Quiznos’ pork products this year will be raised in crate-free environments, with a goal of reaching 15 percent in 2012, under the policy.
Purchasing preference will be given to suppliers who use cage- or crate-free systems.
Quiznos also pledged to buy 5 percent of its turkeys by 2010 from suppliers who use "controlled atmosphere killing," in which the birds’ oxygen supply is replaced by other gases. PETA contends that in conventional slaughter, birds’ bones are broken and throats slashed, often while the birds are conscious.
PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich still prefers that diners buy Quiznos’ vegetarian sandwich, but he praised the chain for the new standards.
Privately held Quiznos has about 5,000 stores across the U.S.
