Vegetarian Star

McDonald’s is living up to its McCruelty nickname by rejecting another offer to switch to cage-free eggs.

According to Organic Authority, at a shareholders’ meeting last week, the board urged a vote in the “nay” direction, arguing such a policy, “would not enhance our existing policies and practices regarding the welfare of egg-laying hens and is not in the best interests of shareholders.”

McDonald’s competitors, such as Burger King and Wendy’s, have either already gone cage-free or are in the process of phasing these eggs in. McDonald’s UK restaurants have already taken the plunge toward better animal welfare and the European Ronald McDonald is set to do the same soon.

And some unscientific polls indicate customers are willing to pay if the costs for cage-free translates into a more expensive Egg McMuffin.
(more…)

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Chrissy Teigen Failed Vegan Experiment
• Mia Evans Is A “Masterchef Junior” Vegetarian Star
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• Holly Madison Enjoys Vegan Smoothie From M Cafe In Beverly Hills

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, which owns several bagel and coffee chains, including Einstein Bros., has made the announcement it’s switching to cage-free eggs at its 680 locations in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

“We’re proud to be launching this initiative and believe that moving in this direction will help improve the treatment of hens,” said James O’Reilly, chief concept officer for ENRG.

The Humane Society of the United States commended ENRG for making the switch towards better welfare for chickens.

“Einstein Noah’s decision to phase in cage-free eggs represents an important step,” said Josh Balk, corporate outreach director of The HSUS’ factory farming campaign. “The Humane Society of the United States applauds the company for improving the lives of farm animals.”

According to the HSUS website, there are about 280 million hens in factory farm cages so small, they cannot even spread their wings.

Cage-free is not the most ideal environment, as birds may still have their beaks cut off and may be prohibited from going outside, but they have 2-3 times more space than caged hens, allowing them to perform normal behaviors such as walking, spreading wings and laying eggs in nests.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Chrissy Teigen Failed Vegan Experiment
• Mia Evans Is A “Masterchef Junior” Vegetarian Star
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• Holly Madison Enjoys Vegan Smoothie From M Cafe In Beverly Hills

Tonight Animal Planet airs a documentary on its investigation into one of the largest pet shops in the United States, Petland.

The company is both a target and defendant of the Humane Society of the United States due to its involvement with puppy mills.

Puppy mills often churn out animals with health and behavioral problems, after housing them in cramped conditions where they are designed to do nothing for humans but breed.

The video above documents an investigation where the White County Sheriff’s Department in Tennessee called the Humane Society to rescue over 200 dogs at a mill in Sparta.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Mia Evans Is A “Masterchef Junior” Vegetarian Star
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• SeaWorld Phasing Out Whale Breeding Program
• Meatless Monday Recipe–Waka Flocka Blueberry Vegan Muffins (Video)

On his blog, president and CEO of the Humane Society,Wayne Pacelle, is declaring victory over foie gras supplier Hudson Valley Foie Gras.

A federal judge in New York ruled in favor of the HSUS in a water pollution lawsuit against Hudson Valley.

The judged ruled Hudson Valley violated the Clean Water Act numerous times and in several ways and HVFG will have to pay $25,000 per day per each future violation.

In addition, HVFG must pay $50,000 towards an environmental project to the Middle Mongaup River–where all of its toxic mess ended up!

“Factory farming interests like to claim that they represent rural people and rural values, but that’s a canard,” writes Pacelle. “Rural people increasingly are in the forefront of the movement against factory farms, since they often experience the problems most acutely, especially the downstream environmental effects.”

HVFG has violated animals, humans and the earth.

Thanks goodness they’re finally paying up!

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• SeaWorld Phasing Out Whale Breeding Program
• Meatless Mouthful–Stevie Wonder Says Vegan Helps His Good Looks And Planet
• Best Vegetarian Stories Of 2015

A Humane Society of the United States representative was set to question Domino’s Pizza this week at a shareholder’s meeting on the restaurant’s use of pork sourced from farmers who keep pigs in gestation crates, small enclosures where pregnant female pigs are kept.

Kristine Middleton, corporate outreach manager for the HSUS, was scheduled to address executives at a meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Middleton said that seven states, including Domino’s headquarters of Michigan, have made it illegal to keep pigs in crates.

According to Pizza Market Place, many fast food companies such such as Chipotle, Burger King and Panera are all phasing in the use of gestation crate free pork.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Chrissy Teigen Failed Vegan Experiment
• Mia Evans Is A “Masterchef Junior” Vegetarian Star
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• Holly Madison Enjoys Vegan Smoothie From M Cafe In Beverly Hills

Teri Hatcher is in the process of launching a new website, Get Hatched, hosted by the Disney Channel and meant to give tips on health, beauty, and more.

We’re sure hoping Teri includes some fantastic vegetarian recipes, like the one she gave to Rachael Ray for vegetarian stuffing.

Since so many stuffing mixes on the shelves contain the very unnecessary ingredient of chicken stock, it’s not as easy to “eat the sides” during Thanksgiving dinner like every meat eating family member says.

Teri’s uses olive oil, fresh herbs like sage and apples that you can stuff into your homemade tofu turkey or eat plain.

You can grab the recipe, here.

Also an animal activist, Hatcher attended the recent Genesis Awards put on by the Humane Society of the United States and co-owns land with former NFL player Howie Long that she plans to turn into an animal sanctuary.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Chrissy Teigen Failed Vegan Experiment
• Mia Evans Is A “Masterchef Junior” Vegetarian Star
• Holly Madison Enjoys Vegan Smoothie From M Cafe In Beverly Hills
• Controversy Over Pro-Vegeterian Curriculum In Schools
• Ellie Goulding Creates Protein Bar “Everlasting Joy” With GoMacro

Ellen DeGeneres Comic Book. Bluewater Productions

The U.S. Sportmen’s Alliance is at it again, targeting celebrities who are benefiting the Humane Society of the United States.

Last year, Carrie Undewood was criticized for donating proceeds from her American Idol elimination track “Home Sweet Home” to the organization.

This year, Ellen DeGeneres and Bluewater Comics are the bull’s-eyes.

The group wrote to the company that is producing Ellen’s Female Force comic book detailing her life, because a portion of its proceeds are going to the Humane Society as well.

“As the producer of this comic, we respectfully ask that you consider severing the relationship you have established with HSUS,” Alliance president and chief executive officer Walter P. Pidgeon wrote in an email provided to E! Online by Bluewater.

A Bluewater representative wrote back, saying it would not comply with the Alliance’s request.

“While we respect your right to disagree with the goals of The Humane Society of the United States,” a Bluewater rep said, “we do not share your concerns about the organization.”

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• SeaWorld Phasing Out Whale Breeding Program
• Best Vegetarian Stories Of 2015
• Ellen DeGeneres Promotes Leather And Suede In New Shoe Line

Gristle

“Unless one treats their kitchen like a biohazard lab, there can be cross-contamination of contagion. In meat-eating households, researchers have found more fecal bacteria in the kitchen–on sponges, dish towels, the sink, and counter surfaces–than they found swabbing the rim of the toilet. We shouldn’t have to cook the crap out of food.”

—-Dr. Michael Greger, director of public health and animal agriculture at the Humane Society of the United States. Dr. Greger writes in Chapter 9 of “Gristle,” edited by Moby and Miyun Park, as he discusses possible zoonotic diseases linked to animal agriculture.

Dr. Greger suggests that many human infectious diseases, measles, smallpox, avian influenza and SARS came from animals.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Jon Stewart and Wife Tracey Stewart Adopt Horse
• Chrissy Teigen Failed Vegan Experiment
• Mia Evans Is A “Masterchef Junior” Vegetarian Star
• Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Elephants Retire To Sanctuary
• Holly Madison Enjoys Vegan Smoothie From M Cafe In Beverly Hills