The Corporate Shift to Cage-Free Eggs & What It Really Means

In the past year, chances are you’ve heard at least one large corporation proudly announce their pledge to shift to entirely cage-free eggs. It seems to be the newest way for companies to meet the demands of the growing “food movement”. Target, Denny’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, even Walmart — the nation’s largest food retailer — have all pledged to go entirely cage-free… but what exactly does that mean, and is it as impressive as it seems?
The Corporate Shift to Cage-Free Eggs & What It Really Means
Cage-free implies not keeping hens in battery cages, the use of which typically results in pretty horrible conditions for the hens. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the majority of egg-laying hens in the United States live their lives confined in battery cages with less than 67 square inches of space per hen on average. (For perspective, that’s less space than a sheet of letter-sized paper.) The good news is that the move away from these conditions is in and of itself a positive step forward.

Unfortunately, if the thought of “cage-free” elicits pastoral visions of hens happily wandering in great, open, green spaces, pecking away at bugs and doing natural hen things, you might be disappointed. Despite what clever marketing images will convey, most cage-free hens, though not in battery cages, will still live their lives entirely indoors, in crowded open spaces. They may still undergo physical alterations as well, such as beak trimming or burning.

If you’re seeking out eggs that go a step further than cage-free, “free-range”, “free-roaming”, and “pasture-raised” all imply outdoor access, giving the hens even greater opportunity to engage in natural hen behaviors. Unfortunately, even these labels don’t ensure that physical alterations, like beak trimming, are not occurring. The only way to be totally certain of the living conditions of the hens from which your eggs are coming from is to get to know a producer, or visit the farm for yourself!

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the corporate shift to cage-free eggs is that it is entirely market-driven. Corporations are shifting to cage-free eggs, not because it’s cheaper or because the government forced them to do so, but because consumers demanded it, and the fact that our preferences really can spark change is a reassuring thought.

What do you think? Are you pleased with the shift to cage-free eggs? Do living conditions for hens matter to you when deciding what eggs to buy? Let us know!
Related products:
Sign Up or Sign In to comment
Total comments: 0
 
 
 
 
Please Wait, Loading...
Please Wait, Loading...
 
 
 
In order to post on the forum you have to sigh in
tmp imgtmp img