Nationwide Gains in Campaign to End One of the Worst Factory Farm Abuses

Cage-free? Battery cages?

Not so long ago, these words couldn't stand on their own. But they do now because America is rapidly moving away from one of the most indefensible factory farm abuses. It's a campaign spearheaded by The Humane Society of the United States against the use of tiny battery cages to confine egg-laying hens.

U.S. factory farms cram about 280 million hens in these cramped cages, which are so small, that hens cannot spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to spend her life.

Now, Americans are sounding off. They won't accept this cruel and shameful treatment of farm animals. On college campuses, in institutional kitchens, in restaurants and among rank-and-file grocery shoppers, "cage-free" eggs are coming into their own.

Just this past year, fast-food giants Burger King, Carl's Jr. and Hardees began transitioning to cage-free eggs. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck announced that he is ending his use of cage eggs. Omni Hotels switched to cage-free eggs at all its locations. And Compass Group—the world's largest food service provider—announced its first step toward eliminating its use of cage eggs.

In addition, hundreds of colleges and universities enacted cage-free egg policies. Cities coast to coast passed resolutions condemning battery cages and urging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens. And California residents are now collecting signatures to place a measure on the 2008 general election ballot that would prohibit battery cage confinement of hens.

Retail consumers are joining the bandwagon. Sales of cage-free eggs to grocery shoppers increased 150% in three years by the industry's own calculations.

"The trend is clear, right and unstoppable—customers don't want hens confined in tiny cages where they can't spread their wings or walk," states Paul Shapiro, senior director of The HSUS' factory farming campaign. "The misery forced on caged hens is out of step with the moral sentiments of most Americans, and 2008 is the year for egg producers to embrace a future without battery cages."

In the two years before, regional and national companies such as Whole Foods Market ended their use of cage eggs entirely. Ben & Jerry's began phasing out its use of cage eggs. Even tech companies such as Google and AOL enacted cage-free egg policies.

Facts

• Battery cage factory farms are ripping cages out of sheds as hundreds of companies and schools switch away from cage eggs. As a result of The HSUS' No Battery Eggs campaign, millions of hens are being spared a lifetime of misery in cages where they can barely move.
• While cage-free does not mean cruelty-free, cage-free hens generally have 250-300 percent more space per bird and are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors than are caged hens. Cage-free hens may not be able to go outside, but they are able to walk, spread their wings, and lay their eggs in nests—all behaviors permanently denied to hens confined in battery cages.

Timeline

• December 2007—Compass Group, the world's largest food service provider, implements a cage-free shell (whole) egg policy.
• October 2007—Californians begin collecting signatures to put the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the 2008 ballot.
• August 2007—The HSUS launches a campaign publicly asking Wendy's to stop exclusively using cage eggs.
• March 2007—Wolfgang Puck announces that he is ending his use of cage eggs, and Burger King begins phasing in the use of cage-free eggs.
• January 2005—The HSUS launches its No Battery Eggs campaign.
• 2000-2002—McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's require that their meat and egg suppliers abide by very modest animal welfare standards.

-30-