People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is known for its in-your-face protests. McDonald's is known for its in-your-face Big Macs. You can imagine the turbulent relationship the two must have. But for the past nine years, they have managed to maintain a truce.
That could all end Monday when PETA holds a protest at the Rock N Roll McDonald's in River North -- over the most humane way to kill a chicken.
"There's more than one way to skin a cat," so the saying goes, and there's more than one way to slaughter a chicken. The conventional method is to knock the chickens unconscious with a shock of electricity and then cut their throats. In Europe, however, many chickens are gassed.
PETA argues that gassing causes less suffering for the chickens, and they're targeting the nation's biggest chicken customers: McDonald's and KFC.
The protest will feature rock musician Chrissie Hynde (leader of the band The Pretenders). Their goal is to convince McDonald's to use chicken suppliers that utilize the gassing method of slaughter.
However, McDonald's has already studied the issue and conducted its own tests.
"It's not conclusive that it's more humane," Bob Langert, McDonald's vice-president of corporate social responsibility, told the Chicago Tribune.
And not everyone on the chicken-welfare side of the debate agrees, either.
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"There is no definite proof either is more humane," said Marie Wheatley, president of the American Humane Association. "Both technologies are acceptable in minimizing pain and suffering."
Matt Bartosik, former blogger of The Chicago Traveler and editor of Off the Rocks' next issue, is a French-fry junkie.
