Sonic under fire for using cramped cages for pregnant pigs

A new report, released by Animal Equality, identified Oklahoma-based chain Sonic as a restaurant that continues to use crates for pregnant pigs.

Alongside 13 other popular restaurants, Sonic utilizes ‘gestation-crates’ which are metal cages used to confine pigs for all or a part of gestation.

According to Animal Equality, these cages measure two feet by seven feet, close to the size of the animals’ bodies. This allows room for very minimal movement and does not allow the animal to fully extend their limbs.

“Companies like McDonald’s, Chipotle and The Cheesecake Factory are proving the restaurant industry can be successful without the extreme confinement of pregnant pigs,” said Animal Equality President Sharon Núñez.

Also in Animal Equality’s report, a survey commissioned by World Animal Protection found that 80% of consumers were “concerned about the treatment of factory-farmed pigs.”

“There is no excuse for this kind of abuse, especially when the majority of consumers are asking for more responsibly sourced food products,” Núñez said.