New Leaf Community Markets Hatches a Cage-Free Egg Policy

WASHINGTON -- The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, praised Santa Cruz, Calif.-based New Leaf Community Markets today for formally implementing an exclusively cage-free egg policy.

New Leaf Community Markets has five locations in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Felton and Boulder Creek. The company sells more than 1.5 million eggs a year.

"Our cage-free egg policy furthers our commitment to animal welfare, and it is consistent with our high standards for natural foods and sustainability," stated Sarah Miles, marketing director for New Leaf Community Markets.

"The HSUS commends New Leaf Community Markets for its cage-free egg policy," commented Paul Shapiro, Factory Farming Campaign director for The HSUS. "By refusing to sell eggs from caged birds, the company is helping to improve animal welfare and encourage the egg industry to end its confinement of laying hens in battery cages."

Numerous California companies, schools, and even local governments have joined a snowballing national movement against the cruel confinement of egg-laying hens inside tiny cages.

Facts

• U.S. factory farms confine nearly 300 million hens in barren battery cages that are so small, the birds can't even spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live. The European Union has banned barren battery cages, effective 2012.
• Several major grocery chains have also stopped selling cage eggs. Wolfgang Puck is ending the use of cage eggs. Burger King is moving away from cage eggs. Bon Appétit, a major food service company, is phasing out the use of cage eggs in all of its 400 cafés, including at Seagate Technology and Plantronics. Companies such as AOL and Google have ended the use of cage eggs in their employee cafeterias. And local municipalities in Maryland, California and Florida have publicly condemned battery cages.
• California schools such as UC Berkeley, Stanford, Claremont McKenna, Santa Clara University and University of San Francisco join more than 100 others across the country in implementing policies to eliminate or greatly reduce their use of cage eggs.

Timeline

March 2007—Burger King announces that it has started phasing in the use of cage-free eggs.

March 2007—Wolfgang Puck announces the implementation of a wide-ranging program to improve animal welfare in his supply chain, including not using battery cage eggs.

February 2007—California Assemblymember Mervyn Dymally (D-52nd District) introduces A.B. 594, a bill that would require that California farm animals merely have enough room to turn around and extend their limbs.

January 2007—West Hollywood, Calif., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encourages egg consumers to not purchase eggs from caged hens.

October 2006—Albany, Calif.-based Andronico's implements an exclusively cage-free egg policy.

September 2006—Ben & Jerry's announces that it will phase out the use of eggs from caged hens in all its ice creams.

May 2006—Mountain View, Calif.-based Google implements an exclusively cage-free egg policy for its employee dining facilities.

May 2005—Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace announce that they have ended sales of eggs from caged hens.

November 2003—The Better Business Bureau rules that it is misleading to label eggs from battery-caged hens as "Animal Care Certified." 

-30-

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization—backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—on the web at www.HumaneSociety.org.