When you roll through the drive-thru for an egg sandwich or fried chicken, you’re probably thinking about the temperature, maybe the calorie content, or how messy it’ll be to eat in the car. You’re probably not thinking about where the main ingredients came from… but some restaurant executives are recognizing the importance of that for you. Serious change is officially happening in fast food, with four of the most beloved chains having just declared change to a key practice.
Last week, Yum! Brands—the biggest restaurant company in the world with more than 50,000 locations nationwide—pledged to go 100% cage-free globally. This means that over the next five years, the parent company’s cage-free commitment will affect items you order at Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, and Habit Burger.
The Humane League tells Eat This, Not That! that this commitment is set to benefit millions of hens in Yum! Brands’ global supply chain that have been kept in cages. Aaron Ross, Vice President Policy and Strategy, The Humane League, said: “We think this is the most impactful cage-free commitment of all time, since Yum! Brands is the world’s largest restaurant company. Consumers all around the world have been demanding better for animals, and companies like Yum! Brands are taking action.”
Yum! Brands’ new global policy commits the company to sourcing 100% cage-free eggs and egg products in more than 150 countries and regions by the end of 2030. In the U.S., Yum! Brands will work to ensure that at least 25% of its eggs come from cage-free hens by the start of 2023, 50% by the start of 2024, 75% by the start of 2025 and 100% by 2026. Humane League reports that the fast food corporation also agreed to provide annual progress reporting to ensure transparency.
Keep reading to see which of your favorite fast-food joints this affects, and a few of the dishes you might feel just a little better about eating.
(Also, why does cage-free matter to you? One reason is because the more mobile the hen, the better it is for your health. To get an idea, read One Major Effect of Eating Free-Range Eggs, Says Science.)
As one of Yum! Brands’ chains, Taco Bell will see this change to the eggs in some of their cream-based sauces and dressings (like Avocado Ranch), most breakfast items, and nearly all their desserts—including churros.
Taco Bell is one of the fast-food brands at the head of the pack with innovation lately. Check out the announcement they made about their sauce packets this week.
Yum! Brands’ change will be fundamental for KFC, as egg is an ingredient in their iconic chicken batter.
If you’re looking to eat a little wiser at KFC, read 5 Healthiest Menu Items at America’s Largest Chicken Chain, Say Dietitians
Pizza Hut’s mozzarella sticks, bone-out wings, and ranch and blue cheese dressings will get an upgrade from this cage-free stance.
RELATED: The Most Popular Pizza Chain in Every State, New Data Shows
If you’re a regular at any of the Habit’s 300-plus locations on the West Coast, the Mountain States, or its growing presence on the East Coast, this is likely to impact your order. That’s because egg is an ingredient in Habit Burger buns, as well as their Caesar salad dishes and and Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad.
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