Outpost Natural Foods Thinks Outside of the Cage

WASHINGTON —The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, applauded Milwaukee-based Outpost Natural Foods today for its exclusively cage-free egg policy.

Outpost Natural Foods has three locations in the greater Milwaukee area. The cooperative sells approximately 840,000 eggs a year and celebrated its 37th anniversary on April 21st.

"Outpost's cage-free egg policy fits with our mission vision and values—both supporting local producers and animal husbandry practices that are better for the animals and the environment," stated Margaret Mittelstadt, director of communications for the cooperative. "If people were made aware of animal welfare conditions at factory style egg production facilities, they wouldn't purchase those products. Cheap eggs come with a much greater cost, and consumers need to be made aware of that difference."

"The HSUS commends Outpost Natural Foods," commented Paul Shapiro, Factory Farming Campaign director for The HSUS. "By refusing to sell eggs from caged birds, the cooperative is helping to improve animal welfare and encourage the egg industry to end its confinement of laying hens in battery cages."

Locally, Milwaukee-based Suzy's Cheesecakes recently became the nation's first cheesecake company to use exclusively cage-free eggs. Bruegger's has implemented a cage-free egg policy for its seven Wisconsin locations. University of Wisconsin-Madison now uses organic, cage-free eggs, and in a recent campus election, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh students voted overwhelmingly in support of the campus switching to cage-free eggs.

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.
• Cage-free hens generally have better lives than birds confined in battery cages. While caging is not the only animal welfare problem in the egg industry, it is a significant cause of laying hen suffering. Cage-free hens generally have approximately 250-300 percent more space per bird and are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors than are caged hens.
• 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. 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.

Timeline

March 2007—Bagel chain Bruegger's switches to cage-free eggs in all its Wisconsin locations.

March 2007—Suzy's Cheesecakes becomes the nation's first cheesecake company to use exclusively cage-free eggs.

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.

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

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—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."

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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.