Swedish Covenant Hospital Hatches a Cage-Free Egg Policy

WASHINGTON—The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, applauded Chicago's Swedish Covenant Hospital for becoming the nation's first hospital to formally announce an exclusively cage-free egg policy.

The independent, nonprofit hospital admitted 15,696 people last year and implemented the new policy on March 15, 2007. It serves approximately 13,000 eggs annually.

"Our hospital is focused on providing compassionate health care, and moving away from cage eggs is a good step in furthering that mission," stated Maria Simmons, manager of Patient Food Services for Swedish Covenant Hospital.

"The HSUS commends Swedish Covenant Hospital for refusing to serve eggs from caged hens," commented Paul Shapiro, Factory Farming Campaign director for The HSUS. "By implementing this policy, the hospital 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.
  
  
• Wolfgang Puck is ending the use of cage eggs. Burger King is moving away from cage eggs. Several major grocery chains such as Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace have stopped selling cage eggs. Bon Appétit, a major food service company, is phasing out the use of cage eggs in all of its 400 cafés, and even 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.
  
  
• More than 100 schools across the country, including the Art Institute of Chicago, have implemented 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.

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

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 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.