World Animal Protection new corporate scorecard reveals top restaurant chains are failing animals and the planet

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Jul 18, 2024, 08:00 ET

Research finds 25 most popular restaurant chains in the US fail to embrace plant-based by default

NEW YORK, July 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, World Animal Protection released Moving the Menu 2024, its latest report card evaluating the top 25 US restaurant chains across five popular categories: burgers, chicken, sandwich, coffee/beverage, and Latin/Mexican-inspired. The report reveals an alarming lack of plant-based by default options at popular chain restaurants and zero meaningful commitments to address their resource-intensive menus, with most chains receiving low grades.

The scorecard emphasizes the importance of shifting to plant-based by default options, meaning offering fully plant-based dishes as a primary choice without requiring modification, for protecting animals, the planet, and public health.

Annette Manusevich, Farming Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection, US states:

"Despite the urgent need to shift to more plant-based diets and the growing consumer demand for ethical and environmentally friendly food choices, most leading chains like Taco Bell and McDonald's are failing to make the grade. Chain restaurants play a pivotal role in the daily food decisions of many American families. Establishing and promoting innovative plant-based by default menus is critical for shifting our food system away from the destruction and suffering inherent in factory farming and move us towards a more sustainable future."

While some chains like Burger King, Peet's, and Chipotle have made notable progress by introducing plant-based menu items and highlighting the benefits of plant-based foods in their reporting, there is much more work to be done and still an opportunity for companies to stand out as true leaders.

The Standard American Diet's current mass production and consumption of meat involves immense animal suffering, environmental degradation, and public health risks along the entire supply chain. World Animal Protection is calling for restaurants to adopt ambitious meat reduction targets and incorporate more innovative plant-based proteins to mitigate these impacts. Options like fermentation protein and, potentially in the near future, cell-cultivated protein offer exciting opportunities to reimagine fast food menus and make positive changes for our communities.

Take action by signing up for World Animal Protection's new toolkit, a one-stop shop for advocating for plant-based by default menus at your favorite chains.

About World Animal Protection

World Animal Protection is a global organization working to end factory farming and wildlife exploitation. We expose cruel systems, promote animal-friendly alternatives, and influence policy change. For over 70 years, World Animal Protection has been rewriting the story for animals.

Working across almost 50 countries with offices in 12, we are the only animal welfare organization with UN Consultative Status, enabling us to engage with and influence global decision-makers. We prioritize animals in farming and wild animals exploited for use in entertainment, as pets, and in fashion.

SOURCE World Animal Protection