DENVER - Officials from the sub-sandwich chain, Quiznos, announced last week it plans to work with its suppliers to eliminate hog “gestation crates” from its supply chain by 2022, but as soon as 2017. Quiznos introduced some gestation crate-free pork into its restaurants in 2008.

“Quiznos is proud to have been one of the first companies to incorporate gestation crate-free pork into our supply chain, five years ago,” said Elizabeth Sapp, Quiznos’ senior vice president of communications. “Our customers have made it clear that they want better treatment for pigs, and we agree. It should come as no surprise to the pork industry or our customers that Quiznos is doing the right thing by now working to ensure an entirely gestation crate-free pork supply.”

Similar announcements have been made recently by Smithfield Foods, Oscar Mayer, McDonald’s, Costco, Safeway, Kroger and more than 60 other leading food companies.