Rainbow Foods Refuses to Sell Eggs from Caged Hens

WASHINGTON-- The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, applauded Juneau, Alaska-based Rainbow Foods today for having an exclusively cage-free egg policy.

Rainbow Foods is located in downtown Juneau.

"Our cage-free egg policy is an important part of our commitment to raising the bar on animal welfare issues," stated David Ottoson, owner of Rainbow Foods.

"The HSUS commends Rainbow Foods 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 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.
• 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.
• There is a snowballing national movement against battery cages. Wolfgang Puck is ending his use of cage eggs. Burger King is beginning to use cage-free eggs. Several grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, have stopped selling cage eggs. 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 condemned battery cage confinement.

Timeline

April 2007—Berkeley, Calif., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens.

April 2007—Food service provider Chartwells announces that it is phasing in the exclusive use of cage-free shell eggs for 45 of the schools it serves.

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

March 2007—Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck announces that he will no longer use eggs from caged hens.

March 2007—New Port Richey, Fla., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens.

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

October 2006—Takoma Park, Md., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to 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.

October 2005—Bon Appétit Management Company announces that it is phasing out the use of eggs from caged hens in all of its 400 cafés.

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 humanesociety.org.