University of Minnesota Hatches a Cage-Free Egg Policy

WASHINGTON—The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, applauds the University of Minnesota today for implementing a policy that will significantly improve the welfare of egg-laying hens.

After a concerted effort by Compassionate Action for Animals, University of Minnesota—one of the top five universities in the country, with nearly 50,000 students on its main campus—has implemented an exclusively cage-free policy for the liquid eggs it uses in all its residential restaurants. The change was effective April 9.

"University of Minnesota's decision is an important advance in the growing movement away from battery cage confinement in the egg industry," commented Paul Shapiro, Factory Farming Campaign director for The HSUS. "The university should be applauded for helping to improve the welfare of egg-laying hens—and sending a strong message to the egg industry that confinement of hens in cages must end."

U of M is in good company. It joins other Minnesota schools such as Macalester College, Northwestern College, Saint Cloud State University and Saint Olaf in implementing a policy to eliminate or greatly reduce the use of eggs from caged hens.

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—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 www.HumaneSociety.org.