The Humane Society of the United States Applauds Vassar’s Compassionate Decision

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. Poughkeepsie, New York's Vassar College has started selling only eggs from uncaged birds in its dining halls, a move that The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) praised as a positive step for animal welfare.

In cooperation with Aramark, Vassar's food service provider, the college has agreed to eliminate the use of eggs from caged birds immediately from its liquid eggs. The school's dining services currently use approximately 780 pounds of liquid eggs each week. Vassar will phase in cage-free eggs for all of its other egg usages in the coming weeks.

The HSUS provided Vassar with information on egg producers that do not use cruel battery cages.  Former Vassar student and HSUS Factory Farming Campaign Manager Paul Shapiro commented, "Vassar and Aramark have taken a leadership role in animal welfare by phasing out the sale of eggs from caged birds.  We applaud their efforts to help reduce animal suffering and encourage other schools to follow suit."

Vassar's Director of Campus Dining Maureen King stated, "The decision to purchase eggs from cage-free hens furthers Vassar's commitment to social responsibility." 

The college 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 Marist College, University of Rochester, St. John Fisher College, George Washington University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and American University. 

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.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential, liberal arts college founded in 1861.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with over 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 hsus.org.