Humane Society: IHOP's Eggs Aren't 'cruelty Free'

TRACIE CONE

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The Humane Society of the United States filed complaints Wednesday against the International House of Pancakes, alleging that the restaurant chain lies about the living conditions of the chickens that lay the eggs for its omelets and pancakes.

IHOP claims that its eggs are "cruelty free" and animals used for its food receive "dignified, humane treatment." The animal welfare group said that's not true and filed complaints with federal regulators saying the Glendale-based company is engaged in "false or deceptive advertising."

The complaints allege that the eggs for IHOP's 1,421 U.S. restaurants come from chickens raised in cramped cages that do not allow them to stretch their wings, walk around or nest.

That doesn't meet a consumer's reasonable expectation of what "cruelty-free" means, the Humane Society said.

"Consumers do not consider it 'humane,' let alone 'cruelty free,' to confine hens for life so tightly in wire cages that they cannot fully spread their wings, as IHOP's standards allow," the group said in its complaint.

The Humane Society and its supporters have waged a long-running battle against the restaurant industry over the conditions in which chickens are raised. They have persuaded national food outlets such as Burger King Corp., Costco Wholesale Corp., Denny's Corp. and Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. to buy at least some of their eggs from producers that allow their hens to roam.