Quiznos Makes Strides in Franchising, Animal Welfare

Last week, Quiznos announced its plans to work with its many suppliers to eliminate gestation crates from its food franchise’s supply chain between 2017 and 2022.

The news was immediately applauded by the Humane Society, the nation’s largest and most effective protection organization.

Most breeding pigs in the U.S. are confined in gestation crates for the majority of their lives. The crates are not large enough for the animals to turn around and are used to prevent pregnancy in pigs. As one of the smartest, most social animals on Earth, gestation crates create an environment of stress, anxiety, fear and pain for pigs.

Quiznos’ decision to eliminate gestation crates from its supply chain comes as a result of its first initiative in 2008 to incorporate crate-free pork into its restaurants. Quiznos’ customers have made it clear they want better treatment for pigs– and Quiznos clearly agrees.

HSUS Food Policy Director Matthew Prescott believes that Quiznos’ move suggests that confining pigs in gestation crates is simply an unsustainable business practice.

As customers become increasingly interested in the origin of the food on their dinner plates, it makes sense for food franchises to make this conscientious step forward. A poll conducted by the American Farm Bureau found that 95 percent of Americans believe that farm animals should be well-cared for. The same poll found that most Americans do not consider gestation crates to be humane.

This progress, especially coming from a large and well-known franchise like Quiznos, will likely inspire others to enact meaningful changes in their supply chains and lead to better treatment of animals other than pigs.