Editing Burger King (section)

== Animal welfare ==
The [[Animal welfare|welfare of animals]] used in Burger King products has been a subject of company activity, as well as a source of controversy.

In 2001, Burger King entered into an agreement with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) following a corporate campaign regarding the treatment of poultry by its suppliers. The agreement established a framework for implementing animal welfare standards, including third-party compliance monitoring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Matt |date=2023-06-05 |title=That Time Richard Pryor Flame-Broiled Burger King for Unethical Animal Treatment |url=https://www.cracked.com/article_38262_that-time-richard-pryor-flame-broiled-burger-king-for-unethical-animal-treatment.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Cracked.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-06-24 |title=Victory: PETA Wins 'Murder King' Campaign! |url=https://www.peta.org/about-peta/learn-about-peta/success-stories/farmed-animal-campaigns/murderking/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=PETA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Winter |first=Greg |date=2001-06-29 |title=Burger King Pledges Humane Use of Animals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/29/business/burger-king-pledges-humane-use-of-animals.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2006, PETA, acting as a shareholder in Burger King's parent company, brought a resolution before the board advocating for the adoption of controlled atmosphere killing (CAK) as a more humane and cost-effective slaughter method. In response, Burger King announced new supplier policies in 2007, prioritizing CAK and committing to incremental use of cage-free eggs and crate-free pork. These changes were recognized by advocacy groups as establishing a higher industry standard for animal welfare compliance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Andrew |date=2007-03-28 |title=Burger King Shifts Policy on Animals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/business/28burger.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2017, Burger King made a commitment they said would "require chicken suppliers to breed only higher-welfare strains of chickens, reduce the stocking density of the birds, improve light levels and litter quality inside barns, and use controlled atmosphere stunning to render the birds unconscious before slaughter, dramatically improving slaughter methods and the birds' living conditions;"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Judkis |first=Maura |date=2017-03-29 |title=Burger King promises to clean up its chicken act |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/food/wp/2017/03/29/burger-king-promises-to-clean-up-its-chicken-act/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> however, a 2023 report from [[Compassion in World Farming]], an animal advocacy organization, said that Burger King had not reported their progress in complying with the commitment, raising fears among animal advocates that the commitment was not being met.<ref>Compassion in World Farming. (2023). ''ChickenTrack 2023 Report''. Compassion in World Farming. Retrieved from <nowiki>https://www.compassioninfoodbusiness.com/key-tools-for-success/chickentrack-2023</nowiki></ref>

Burger King has been praised by animal advocates for the introduction of a Whopper made with a plant-based meat alternative from [[Impossible Foods]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kart |first=Jeff |title=Animal Welfare Org Says Plant-Based Fast Food Burgers Are Saving 250,000 Animals A Year |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2019/12/19/animal-welfare-org-says-plant-based-fast-food-burgers-are-saving-250000-animals-a-year/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> and for the introduction of vegan menu items like the "Vegan Royale" in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Rachel |date=2021-04-26 |title=Burger King UK launches Vegan Royale as plant-based Rebel Whopper returns to menu |url=https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/burger-king-launches-vegan-royale/#google_vignette |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Vegan Food & Living |language=en-GB}}</ref>