WASHINGTON—Today, the nation's largest animal protection organization announced another success in the effort to end one of the most abusive practices in animal agribusiness. University of Connecticut has announced that it has begun a pilot program using cage-free eggs in Whitney Dining Hall this semester, a move that The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) praised as a positive step for animal welfare.
UConn's Department of Dining is purchasing "Certified Humane" cage-free eggs for use in Whitney Dining Hall this semester. UConn dining officials plan to purchase nearly 20,000 of these eggs this semester for use at Whitney.
"Supporting regional sustainable farms and ensuring that the animals that provide us with food are treated humanely are important goals of the Local Routes program at UConn," explained Rebecca Gorin, Area Assistant Manager, Department of Dining. "Through our purchase of Certified Humane eggs from our New England neighbors in New Hampshire, we are not only keeping purchasing dollars in our region, but we are ensuring the welfare of the animals that provide our food."
UConn joins a growing list of schools refusing to use eggs from caged birds. Dozens of schools have enacted policies to eliminate or greatly reduce the use of eggs from caged hens, including University of New Hampshire, Georgetown University, Marist College, Vassar College, University of Rochester, and American University.
A student animal protection group initiated meetings with the Department of Dining, and The HSUS provided the department with information about a "Certified Humane" cage-free egg producer. "UConn 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 UConn's efforts to reduce animal suffering, and we encourage other schools to follow its example."
Just in the past year, 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 has 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.
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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, 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 hsus.org.
