Third of the Big Three, Wendy’s, Falls to PETA Pressure

October 2001

After securing victory over Burger King in June 2001, PETA launched a campaign against Wendy’s. In the first demonstration of the campaign, actor James Cromwell and others were arrested inside a Wendy’s restaurant in McLean, Virginia, after asking customers to eat elsewhere while Wendy’s still permits the worst animal welfare abuses. Our campaign lasted three months and included dozens of arrests at Wendy’s restaurants nationwide.

In September 2001, PETA declared victory over Wendy’s after the company agreed to adopt the same farmed-animal welfare standards as Burger King, including immediate adoption of standards in Canada.

USA Today reported, “McDonald’s buckled first. Then Burger King. Now, Wendy’s has plans to bolster its animal welfare standards following intense pressure from an animal rights group. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) today will announce the end of its 2-month-old campaign against Wendy’s. The move comes one day after the fast-food chain told PETA it would strengthen oversight of its suppliers and improve treatment of animals before and during slaughter.”