Winter Springs City Commission Passes Resolution Opposing One of Factory Farming's Worst Abuses

The Humane Society of the United States praises commission for condemning the confinement of egg-laying hens in tiny cages

Last night, the Winter Springs, Fla., City Commission unanimously passed a resolution opposing one of the most notorious factory farming practices: the intensive confinement of egg-laying hens in tiny wire battery cages.

The resolution states that the commission "opposes battery cage egg production, based on the inherent cruelty of confining egg-laying hens in battery cages," and further "encourages consumers of eggs not to purchase eggs produced by caged hens."

Winter Springs Deputy Mayor Sally McGinnis was an early supporter of the resolution. She states, "I'm proud that Winter Springs has become a leader in the growing movement away from battery cages. Elected leaders should set an example when it comes to opposing animal cruelty, and cramming egg-laying hens inside tiny cages is clearly cruel and inhumane."

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, praised the Winter Springs Commission for speaking out on such an important animal cruelty issue.

Paul Shapiro, senior director of the factory farming campaign for The HSUS, comments, "The Winter Springs City Commission has sent a clear message: the egg industry's notorious record on animal welfare is shameful, and it should start reducing the suffering laying hens endure by ending its confinement of laying hens in battery cages."

Winter Springs joins other municipalities such as New Port Richey, Fla., in condemning battery cage confinement.

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.
• There is a snowballing national movement against battery cages. Florida-headquartered Burger King is beginning to use cage-free eggs. Wolfgang Puck is ending his use of cage 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.
• 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 have approximately 250-300 percent more space per bird and are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors than are caged hens.

Timeline

• June 11, 2007—Winter Springs, Fla., becomes the fifth city following Berkeley, Calif., New Port Richey, Fla., West Hollywood, Calif., and Takoma Park, Md., to unanimously pass a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens.
• 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.
• 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 humanesociety.org.