Protest to save hedgehogs from 'McFlurry death'

nlnews@archant.co.uk
23 February 2006

Hedgehogs are attracted to the discarded McFlurry tubs – luckily this animal was saved in time

A MUSWELL Hill businesswoman is campaigning for McDonald's to change the design of its McFlurry cartons following the death of a number of hedgehogs who got trapped in the tubs.

Joanna Haydon Knowell, of JHK Estate Agents, has backed protests from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to get the lids changed and is writing to the fast food chain's headquarters in East Finchley.

Hedgehogs are getting trapped in the tub as they use their pointed noses to forage in the containers dropped by litterbugs.

McDonald's has in principle agreed to change the design, but Ms Haydon Knowell, who also rehabilitates hedgehogs who are sick or threatened with culling, said the change was too slow in coming.

She said: "McDonald's needs to stop talking and get down to business. There is a real problem with the packaging ultimately causing the death of hedgehogs."

A spokeswoman for McDonald's said: "We'd like to reassure our customers that we take this very seriously, and are committed to addressing the issue."

"We have been working with our suppliers and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to investigate and trial a number of different packaging options. As yet however, a suitable alternative which meets our criteria has not been found. We continue to search for a suitable alternative."

She added a revised McFlurry lid with a smaller opening and a message warning

of the danger to wildlife caused by littering had been trialed.

Before the changes can be installed in around 1,250 restaurants, she explained, they had "to be approved by our European colleagues".