McDonalds

McDonald’s sources chicken from Australian RSPCA Certified farms. These farms take pride in raising their birds in an enriched barn environment. Chickens enjoy space to move, good lighting and can perch, dustbathe and forage – which ultimately leads to better health and welfare.

History of improving the lives of farm animals

McDonald’s opened its first Australian restaurant in 1971 and now operates over 1,000 locations nationwide, serving more than 1.7 million customers every day. With a long-standing relationship with Australian farmers and producers, McDonald’s has engaged with RSPCA Certified for over a decade and has also sourced cage free eggs since 2017 — demonstrating a strong commitment over time to improving farm animal welfare across the country.

Improving the lives of meat chickens

Since 2021, McDonald’s has sourced 100% RSPCA Certified chicken for its Australian restaurants, working with Ingham’s, Turosi and Baiada, which all farm to the RSPCA’s detailed animal welfare standards. These producers are RSPCA Certified which means they adhere to strict requirements included in the RSPCA Australia Standard for Meat Chickens and are regularly assessed against the standard.  By sourcing from these businesses, McDonalds has improved the lives of millions of meat chickens reflecting a broader commitment to farm animal welfare and responsible sourcing.

Making a significant difference

When businesses choose higher-welfare products like RSPCA Certified chicken, the impact is far-reaching—benefiting not only animals, but also farmers, producers, and consumers. Supporting higher-welfare food production encourages industry-wide change, resulting in more animals living better lives under standards that go beyond legal requirements.