DALLAS People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has submitted a shareholder resolution to Brinker International Inc. that calls on the casual-dining company to move its poultry suppliers toward “controlled-atmosphere killing.”
The advocacy group, based in Norfolk, Va., said it owns 190 Brinker shares. The company, parent to the Chili’s Grill & Bar chain, has nearly 101.2 million shares outstanding.
PETA cited quick-service operators such as Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and Wendy’s that have moved toward giving preference to suppliers that employ the controlled-atmosphere slaughtering method, which replaces the oxygen that chickens and turkeys breathe with nonpoisonous gasses, such as argon and nitrogen, and puts the birds "to sleep,” rather than the traditional slaughter methods.
Brinker has more than 1,800 restaurants, under the Chili's, On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Maggiano's Little Italy and Romano's Macaroni Grill brands.
“Consumers care about animal welfare, so it’s in Brinker’s best interests to switch to a less cruel slaughter methods," aid PETA vice president Bruce Friedrich.
