McDonald's reveals plans to sell only humanely raised and slaughtered chickens by 2024

(FOX NEWS) - McDonald's is taking a step toward improving animal welfare by requiring suppliers to follow new standards for raising and slaughtering chickens served in the chain's restaurants.

The guidelines, announced Friday, will mandate standards such as monitoring the brightness of light in the perches, clean coops, and making sure birds are raised more humanely, Newsweek reported.

McDonald's suppliers will also be required to start gassing the chickens prior to slaughter -- a process called "stunning" -- which will render the slaughtering process painless, the L.A. Times reported. The Times also said that, prior to these guidelines, some suppliers would shock the livestock before cutting their throats.

"We believe these new commitments provide the ability to drive and measure continuous improvement for the health and welfare of chickens," Bruce Feinberg, a senior director at McDonald's who oversees chicken, beef, pork, fish and dairy products, wrote in an announcement.

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