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MIAMI -- Burger King said it will make its suppliers follow guidelines for humane animal treatment, a move the fast-food chain insisted was not prompted by a boycott launched three months ago by an animal rights group.
Officials for the Miami-based company said Monday it will abide by the American Meat Institute's Good Management Practices for Animal Handling and Stunning, as well as standards set by broiler chicken and egg producer groups.
The measures are aimed at such goals as making suppliers stun animals before slaughtering them.
"We've always believed in humane treatment of animals," said Burger King spokesman Rob Doughty. "This just makes very clear what we expect our suppliers to do."
Company officials said the announcement was based on the recommendations from an expert panel assembled before the boycott launched by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Two years ago, McDonald's adopted animal treatment standards after the group launched a similar campaign against it.
PETA campaign coordinator Bruce Friedrich said the guidelines don't go far enough, saying Burger King's promises still allow abuses like animal dehydration and starvation. But Temple Grandin, a Colorado State University animal science professor who is on Burger King's advisory group, called it "a good first step."
