Super Sonic Makes Important Decision to Help Animals

Road trips remind me of a better decade, when poodle skirts and pompadours were in fashion. So when I'm on the open road, Elvis croons from my stereo and the iconic Sonic drive-thru diner is a must on the list of pit stops.

cravingstogo / CC

And now I have another reason to cruise on up to Sonic besides its seriously addictive limeade. The company just agreed to begin purchasing eggs and to double the amount of meat it purchases from suppliers that use less cruel production methods. Under its new animal welfare policy, Sonic will take the following actions:

• The company will urge its chicken suppliers to convert to "controlled-atmosphere killing" (CAK)—the less cruel method of bird slaughter—or will favor suppliers that convert to CAK systems.
• It will begin phasing in the purchase of "cage-free" eggs from suppliers that don't cram their hens into cages, and it plans to increase the percentage of "cage-free" eggs annually.
• Sonic will double its purchase of "crate-free" pig meat from suppliers that don't confine pregnant sows to cruel gestation crates that restrict nearly all movement.

With the new policy, Sonic adds its voice to those calling for less cruel slaughter methods that will prevent thousands of chickens from suffering broken bones and dying in scalding-hot defeathering tanks—and it will mean more humane living conditions for sows. The company has set an example that we hope other chains will follow. Of course, our offers to meet with execs from McDonald's and KFC still stand.

Written by Karin Bennett