McDonald's And Target Drop Egg Farm Over Cruelty Claims

This really bothers me, and I usually skip these articles.  I accept that I'm a hypocrite, destined to eat meat while feeling guilty about how animals are treated.  We took good care of our farm animals, and treated them with consideration and respect.  It is important to recognize what goes on so we can eradicate this in the future.

(CNN) -- McDonald's and Target dropped an egg supplier this week after an activist group released disturbing video showing what it says shows animal cruelty at three of the company's barns.

The undercover video, released by Mercy for Animals, was allegedly shot between May and August at facilities run by Sparboe Farms in Colorado, Iowa and Minnesota. It shows hens crammed in crowded cages, workers burning beaks and one, trying to shove a bird inside the pocket of a co-worker, apparently for fun. Another worker presses his thumb against the back of a chick's neck until it breaks.

"Regarding the undercover videos, the behavior on tape is disturbing and completely unacceptable. McDonald's wants to assure our customers that we demand humane treatment of animals by our suppliers. We take this responsibility -- along with our customers' trust -- very seriously. It's important to note that the most alarming actions on video did not occur at Sparboe's Vincent, Iowa, facility that supplies McDonald's. Nonetheless, our extremely high standards for our suppliers prohibit this conduct," McDonald's said in a statement, announcing its decision to cut ties with Sparboe Farms.

The response from Sparboe was "this isn't who we are." Ridiculous in light of the fact that this happened on their premises, and serious violations were found. I am glad to see two major vendors taking this seriously. It gives me hope that standards will be enforced and animals can be treated as kindly as possible, whenever possible.