The Reef Hatches a Cage-Free Egg Policy

The Humane Society of the United States praises Washington, D.C. restaurant The Reef for refusing to use eggs from hens confined in cramped cages. The Reef now joins a snowballing number of other Washington-area institutions in taking this action to reduce animal suffering.

The Reef owner Brian Harrison states, "The Reef is proud of our commitment to social responsibility. Simply by ending our use of eggs from caged hens, we were able to strengthen our commitment to animal welfare and improve the lives of egg-laying hens."

"More and more socially responsible companies like The Reef are joining the national movement away from eggs from caged hens," comments Paul Shapiro, senior director of The HSUS' factory farming campaign. "We applaud them for heeding the call of consumers who are increasingly opposed to battery cage cruelty."

The Reef is in good company. Several District of Columbia universities, including Georgetown, Gallaudet and American, join hundreds of others across the country in using cage-free eggs in their cafeterias. And the Takoma Park City Council passed a resolution condemning battery cages and encouraging its residents not to purchase eggs from caged hens.

Facts

• U.S. factory farms confine about 280 million hens in barren battery cages that are so small, they can't even spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live.
• There is a snowballing national movement against battery cages. Wolfgang Puck and Ben & Jerry's are ending their use of cage eggs. Burger King, Carl's Jr. and Hardees have begun using cage-free eggs. Several grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, have stopped selling cage eggs.
• 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 egg policy
• August 2007—Hardee's and Carl's Jr. begin phasing in the use of cage-free eggs.
• March 2007—Burger King begins phasing in the use of cage-free eggs.
• November 2003—The Better Business Bureau rules that it is misleading to label eggs from battery-caged hens as "Animal Care Certified."
• 2000-2002—McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's require that their meat and egg suppliers abide by very modest animal welfare standards.

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