The Unquowa School Launches a Cage-Free Egg Policy

WASHINGTON —Today, the nation's largest animal protection organization announced another success in the effort to end one of the most abusive factory farming practices. Fairfield-based The Unquowa School has switched to cage-free eggs in its dining facilities, a move that The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) praised as an important step for animal welfare.

The pre-K through eighth grade school has chosen to eliminate the use of eggs from caged birds from its dining facilities.

"Switching to more humanely produced eggs fits Unquowa's commitment to foster positive ethical values in our students," stated Sharon Lauer, Head of The Unquowa School. "I am delighted that our school has made such a positive commitment to animal welfare by using only cage-free eggs."

The Unquowa School joins a growing list of schools refusing to use eggs from caged birds. More than eighty colleges and universities have eliminated or dramatically decreased the use of eggs from caged hens, including University of Connecticut, University of New Hampshire, Tufts University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, and American University.

"The Unquowa School has taken a positive step for animal welfare by ending its use of eggs from caged birds," commented Paul Shapiro, Factory Farming Campaign manager for The HSUS. "We applaud Unquowa's efforts to reduce animal suffering, and we encourage other schools to follow its example."

Since 2005, several major grocery chains such as Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Jimbo's Naturally, and Earth Fare eliminated their sales of battery cage eggs. Trader Joe's converted all of its brand eggs to cage-free. And food service provider Bon Appétit began phasing in exclusively cage-free eggs for all of its 190 cafés.

In the United States, approximately 95 percent of eggs sold come from hens confined in barren "battery cages," wire enclosures so small the birds can't even spread their wings or engage in many other natural behaviors, such as nesting, foraging, perching, and dust bathing. The cages are stacked one on top of another inside huge warehouses on factory farms. Each bird is afforded less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live, leading to extremely high levels of stress and frustration.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.

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