McDonald's Canada to Serve Canadian Beef Certified Sustainable by Leading Industry Experts

McDonald's Canada is supporting responsible beef production after a four year journey to help define beef sustainability standards in Canada. Image: McDonald's Canada, Twitter

TORONTO -- In a major nod to the quality of Canadian beef, McDonald's Canada announced recently that it will be the first company in Canada to serve Canadian beef from certified sustainable farms and ranches, beginning with its Angus line-up.  

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This means that for the first time ever, McDonald's 3 million daily guests will soon be able to enjoy Angus beef sourced from farms and ranches certified sustainable according to world-class standards set by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). More specifically, over the next 12-months, more than 20-million Angus burgers will be sourced according to the CRSB standards.

"This is a big step in our beef journey – not just for McDonald's Canada and the Canadian beef industry, but around the world," said John E. Betts, President and CEO, McDonald's Canada. "Without the support from the industry and the incredible work Canadian ranchers do every day, beef sustainability in Canada would not be possible. This partnership, combined with McDonald's scale, is creating change and encouraging responsible beef production for years to come that will benefit all Canadians."

People will also soon see a new Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) certification logo alongside McDonald's Mighty Angus line-up on the menu. 

This is all possible because McDonald's Canada has positioned itself to meet the requirements of the CRSB's Certified Sustainable Framework. The CRSB Sustainable Beef Production and Processing Standards include more than 60 indicators across five principles for beef sustainability and are upheld by-on-site certification audits.

For example, a few of the indicators a farmer or rancher must achieve include:

• Grasslands and grazing are managed in a way that maintains or improves soil health and protects watershed areas.
• Outcomes related to feed/water, animal care, shelter, herd health and handling procedures are met as per requirements outlined in Canada's Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle.

As a founding member of the CRSB, established in 2014, McDonald's Canada was a driving force and strong supporter in developing Canadian standards for beef sustainability. The CRSB consists of a diverse group of stakeholders representing academia, government, food and agricultural businesses, producer associations, processors like McDonald's supplier, Cargill, retail and foodservice as well as NGOs like the World Wildlife Fund U.S., Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Sourcing sustainably doesn't just benefit McDonald's; the entire ecosystem stands to gain. As more producers have their operations certified sustainable, McDonald's looks forward to growing the volume of available beef sourced from CRSB-certified sustainable operations, with other companies also joining the journey.

Sustainability claims will be awarded based on a minimum of 30 per cent of the supply chain's beef originating from CRSB-certified farms and ranches. McDonald's Canada sources 100 per cent of the beef for its hamburger patties from Canadian ranches and farms, primarily in Alberta and Saskatchewan. McDonald's beef patties contain no artificial additives, flavours and preservatives and are sourced 100% in Canada.

The CRSB has developed the Certified Sustainable Beef Framework to drive the advancement and recognition of beef sustainability in Canada through a world class farm and ranch level certification program, and to recognize and promote sustainable beef production practices, support continuous improvement and facilitate communication with the public. The five CRSB indicator categories encompass:

• Natural resources, such as ensuring soil health, water supply, and wildlife and plant biodiversity.
• People and community, include ensuring a safe work environment and commitment to supporting local communities.
• Animal health and welfare, such as adequate feed and access to drinking water and minimizing animal stress and pain.
• Food, such as ensuring food safety and beef quality, including training and registration in the program.
• Efficiency and innovation, such as recycling and energy efficiency programs.

SOURCE McDonald's Canada