Ryan Gosling to McDonald's: Save the Birds!

Ryan Gosling may not be vegetarian, but that’s not stopping him from ruffling feathers at McDonald’s over the company’s outdated chicken-slaughter practices. The 29-year-old Canadian actor has just fired off a letter on behalf of PETA to McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner. Check it:

“Dear Mr. Skinner, I was shocked to learn from my friends at PETA that McDonald’s, a company that claims to be an industry leader in animal welfare, still allows its suppliers to use an outdated chicken slaughter method that results in broken wings and legs and causes birds to be scalded to death in defeathering tanks.

“Many of McDonald’s suppliers in Europe already use a much more humane slaughter method that eliminates the worst cruelty. What’s your excuse?

“Because no federal laws govern the treatment of chickens during slaughter, the responsibility lies in your company’s hands to create and maintain a high standard of animal welfare. I hope you will agree that the time has come for McDonald’s to truly take action to reduce the suffering of chickens killed for its restaurants. I look forward to hearing your decision. Thank you. Sincerely, Ryan Gosling.”

In 2008, Ryan wrote a similar letter to the largest franchisee of KFC’s in Canada asking the company to update to the more humane, modern methods; just days later, the company that coordinates the purchase of chicken for all Canadian KFCs agreed to phase in the purchase of 100 percent of chicken from suppliers that use these methods.

To write McDonald’s yourself, contact Jim Skinner, CEO, McDonald’s Corporation, 2111 McDonald’s Dr., Oak Brook, IL 60523.