Penn Hatches a Cage-Free Egg Policy

University of Pennsylvania has joined a growing national movement toward improving the lives of farm animals by using only cage-free eggs. The new policy drew applause from The Humane Society of the United States.

Laurie Cousart, director of dining services at Penn, explained, "In recent years, our faculty, staff and especially students have become more interested in the origins of the food that they purchase. We are committed to working with our food providers not only to ensure that their products meet top safety and quality standards, but also to factor in socially responsible production methods as important criteria for success."

"The HSUS is delighted that Penn is ending its use of eggs from caged hens," commented Paul Shapiro, senior director of The HSUS' factory farming campaign. "Penn has made a great step, and we look forward to working with other schools on similar policies."

Penn joins Carnegie Mellon University—and more than 350 others across the country—in using cage-free eggs.

Facts

• U.S. factory farms confine approximately 280 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 for more than a year before she's slaughtered.
• 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 and may have parts of their beaks cut off, 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.
• Across the U.S., restaurants, producers, and retailers—including Safeway, Burger King, Wolfgang Puck, Carl's Jr. and Hardees—are moving away from using cage eggs.
• In a landslide vote this Election Day, Californians approved Prop 2—a new law making it a criminal offense (with a phase-out period) to confine hens in battery cages, pigs in gestation crates and calves in veal crates.

-30-