More companies sourcing cage-free eggs

Corporate demand for cage free eggs continues to grow around the world, however sourcing policies reveal significant variations in approach.

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Monitoring of large corporations’ commitments to source cage free eggs has shown that change is continuing even if the pace of change is uneven. | (Photo by Andrea Gantz)
Monitoring of large corporations’ commitments to source cage free eggs has shown that change is continuing even if the pace of change is uneven. | (Photo by Andrea Gantz)

Demand for cage-free eggs continues to grow in North America and Europe as ever more businesses commit to remove cage-produced eggs from their sourcing policies.

Every major food service company now has a global cage free commitment, as do nine of the ten largest global manufacturers and eight of the ten largest hotel chains.

No company can change its sourcing from one day to the next and, over the last four years, animal welfare organization Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has been monitoring companies’ progress in honoring their cage free commitments and publishing its finding in EggTrack.

Inclusion in the report is based on a company’s size, egg footprint, market influence and commitment to a deadline. Numerous companies have opted for a 2025 or 2026 deadline and all of the companies included in the report were asked to publicly disclose or update their cage-free percentage ahead of a July 31st deadline.

The latest edition of EggTrack reveals that, of the 210 monitored companies, 63% have progressed in meeting their cage-free commitments. Of these companies, 80 have global operations, 57 operate only within North America or the U.S. and 73 only operate within Europe.

Global operations, however, do not necessarily equate to global commitments.

While the number of companies with globally applied commitments has now risen to 37 from only five in 2016, many internationally recognized brands have only committed to stop sourcing cage eggs in some regions, and not across their global supply chains.

Variety of approach is not simply limited to geographic variation. In addition to only sourcing cage-free shell eggs, some companies are applying their cage-free commitments to egg products/ingredients while others are not.

Highlighting progress, but also variety of approach, the latest EggTrack notes that General Mills has increased its global cage-free egg sourcing from 40% to 55%, while Danone has increased its sourcing from 43% to 88%. McDonald’s has reported 100% cage-free shell egg sourcing in Europe, but for egg products it only uses cage-free in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

Barilla is the only company to have met its global cage-free commitment, which it did in 2019.

Varying pace of change

The information collated in EggTrack is sourced from companies’ publicly disclosed information.

CIWF notes that many companies have stood by their commitments, however, others have fallen behind. It notes that while COVID-19 may have slowed the pace of change, corporate egg consumers are continuing to implement their cage-free sourcing policies

The pace of change varies from company, as do reporting policies.

Looking at Europe, CIWF notes that, over the last year, EggTrack has seen an increase in companies reporting on their transition to cage free eggs as part of global or regional commitments. Hover, of the 83 monitored companies only 53 reported on all egg types. Nineteen reported meeting their European commitments. However, 19 companies have transitioned less than half their supply and 25% a quarter or less.

For some companies, a commitment remains in place but deadlines may have slipped, while others may have changed their policies. However, CIWF notes that, in some cases, an apparent lack of change may, in fact, simply be a lack of reporting.

U.S.

The cage-free flock in the U.S. continues to grow and, according to EggTrack, now accounts for 25.1% of the country’s entire laying flock, a significant increase from the 20.5% recorded in 2019.

Over the four years that EggTrack has been monitoring companies operating in the U.S., the percentage of companies reporting on their has risen from 27% of those monitored to 50%.

Of the 117 companies with U.S. or North American commitments, EggTrack notes that 59% have reported progress across all egg types in their commitment, while 27 reported for only part of their commitment.

Six companies operating in the region reported that they have met their commitments over the last year. These were: Danone; Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; the Walt Disney Company; Unilever, Whitsons Culinary Group; and, Wyndham Destinations.

However, there were seven companies operating in North America that missed their own deadlines. These were: Aramak, Compass Group; Hy Vee Market Grill; IKEA: Spectra; Sodexo and The Fresh Market Group. While all of these companies may have failed to meet their deadlines, Compass, Aranak and Sodexo continue to update on progress.

Europe

A little over 50% of the European layer flock is now kept in cage-free production systems. Despite an increasing rejecting of enriched cages they are still home to 47% of the European layer flock and transition away from them has been said to be slow, CIWF says.

Of the 101 companies with commitments operating in Europe, 83, an increase of 11 companies compared to the previous year, reported progress in switching away from cage produced eggs. Fifty-three companies reported fully against all egg types while 30 reported progress for only part of their commitment.

Four companies fulfilled their commitments this year: CIR Food: Galbusera; Unilever; and Coop Italia.

Commenting on the release of the latest EggTrack report, CIWF Global Chief Executive Officer Philip Lymbery said: “It is no small feat to convert production across Europe and the United States, and thanks both to corporate leaders and consumers, both regions have made significant progress”.

Increasing global change

While most the commitments come from companies operating globally or in North America or Europe, commitments from other regions are growing. CIWF notes that there are signs of change coming from other parts of world. Over the last three years, it says, there have been more commitments coming out of Latin America and one has been made in Africa.

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The number of birds kept on cage free farms has increased significantly in the U.S. over recent years, while in Europe the change has been slower. | Photo by Austin Alonzo

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