A recent study attempted to identify the nutrition and living conditions of “fast food animals” by analyzing the carbon and nitrogen isotope content in the meat. The study revealed that the meat used by McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King came from animals who were fed an excessive corn diet and were raised in extreme confinement.
I’m not sure if this method can really identify the exact living conditions of these animals, but it probably gives a pretty accurate picture. More research like this can hopefully stimulate these mega food corporations to clean up their acts.
Forbes.com had a nice article on the study. Here’s a bit from it (or read the full article):
Jahren and Kraft, a doctoral student in at Johns Hopkins University, conducted the research unpaid. Jahren says she is trying to shed light on a dearth of information about how a cow becomes a McDonald’s quarter-pounder, for example. “The information gap is really fascinating,” says Jahren, who tried for two years without success to obtain information from Burger King, Wendy’s and McDonald’s about their suppliers and food production practices. McDonald’s does not disclose its suppliers and Wendy’s declines to do so, citing “competitive reasons.”
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