(photo courtesy of morguefile.com)

Nearly 6 years of negotiations with PETA have resulted in Burger King's agreeing to enact a new industry-leading animal welfare plan to improve conditions for the animals used for its products.

According to its new plan, Burger King will:

* Immediately begin purchasing 10% of its pig flesh from suppliers that do not use cruel gestation crates—metal enclosures that confine mother pigs and are so restrictive that the animals cannot even stretch a limb or take a step—and double that amount by the end of 2007.

* Immediately begin purchasing 2% of its eggs from hens who are not confined to tiny wire battery cages and more than double that amount by the end of 2007.

* Issue a statement to its egg suppliers that it will give purchasing preference to those that do not use battery cages.

* Issue a statement to its chicken-flesh suppliers that it will give purchasing preference to those that use or switch to "controlled-atmosphere killing" (CAK), the least cruel method of poultry slaughter in existence.

PETA applauds Burger King for this groundbreaking announcement, and we will continue to work with the company to improve its animal welfare requirements. American Feast joins in the applause.

For further info on PETA visit the organization's web site: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals