Takoma Park, Md., Encourages Better Treatment of Laying Hens

October 11, 2006


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The City Council of Takoma Park, Md.—a small town outside Washington, D.C.—made history for the animals Oct. 9 by unanimously passing a resolution [PDF] opposing one of the most notorious factory farming abuses: the intensive confinement of egg-laying hens in wire battery cages.

The resolution, introduced by Councilmember Bruce Williams, states that the council "opposes battery cage egg production, based on the inherent cruelty of confining egg-laying hens in battery cages," and further "encourages consumers of eggs not to purchase eggs produced by caged hens."

What You Can Do

Thank Councilmember Williams and the rest of the Takoma Park City Council for speaking out against the cruelty of battery cage confinement.

Several residents testified at the meeting in favor of the resolution, including The HSUS' Factory Farming Campaign director, Paul Shapiro.

"Little is more cruel and inhumane than the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages," Shapiro said. "The HSUS commends the Takoma Park City Council, whose resolution sends a message to the egg industry that it should begin improving its notoriously poor record on animal welfare, starting with a move toward cage-free production systems."

Washington, D.C., Councilmember Jim Graham recently introduced the Increased Consumer Information for the Sale of Eggs Act of 2006, which would require grocers in the city to disclose which eggs have come from hens confined in cages.

Across the country, a growing number of consumers and companies are moving away from any association with eggs from caged birds. Approximately 100 schools have enacted policies to greatly reduce or eliminate their use of eggs from caged hens. Retailers including Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's, and corporations such as AOL and Google, have ended or decreased their use of cage eggs. And companies like Ben & Jerry's and Bon Appetit, a major foodservice provider, are phasing out the use of cage eggs.

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Takoma Park, Maryland