WASHINGTON — Today, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced another victory in its campaign to end the intensive caging of egg-laying hens. Natural foods retail chain Earth Fare has agreed to stop the sale of eggs from caged birds in all of its 13 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Earth Fare has joined the growing list of grocery stores and universities that have pledged never to purchase eggs from caged hens. Earth Fare sells over four million eggs every year.
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 flap their wings or engage in many other natural behaviors, such as nesting, foraging, perching, and dust bathing. The cages provide each bird with less floor space than a single sheet of paper on which to live, leading to extremely high levels of stress and frustration.
Earth Fare President Mike Cianciarulo announced, "Because of our commitment to corporate responsibility and the humane treatment of animals, Earth Fare is proud to have a policy against the sale of eggs from caged birds."
Just this year, Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace—two of the nation's largest natural foods retailers—announced their pledges to eliminate the sale of eggs laid by chickens confined battery cages. Similarly, several universities have also ended or dramatically reduced their sales of cage eggs, including George Washington University, Marist College, Vassar College, University of Arizona, University of Connecticut, American University, and University of Rochester.
According to The HSUS Factory Farming Campaign Manager Paul Shapiro, "Battery-caged hens are among the most abused animals in all of agribusiness. Earth Fare has taken a positive step to help reduce animal suffering by pledging never to purchase eggs from caged hens, and we commend their efforts and encourage other grocers to follow suit."
The HSUS is also focusing on a national campaign urging Trader Joe's, a top natural foods store, to stop supporting battery cage eggs.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, 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 across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
