Wendy’s accused of violating its cage-free egg commitment

In 2016, Wendy’s made a commitment to utilize 100% cage-free eggs in its breakfast products by 2020. The commitment was originally made for a portion of their restaurants serving breakfast.

Meredith Johnson Headshot
Columbus ohio commercial photographer tom dubanowich photographed the new Wendy's design store in Hiliard, 4245 Cemetery Rd.
Columbus ohio commercial photographer tom dubanowich photographed the new Wendy's design store in Hiliard, 4245 Cemetery Rd.
Courtesy of Wendy's

In 2016, Wendy’s made a commitment to utilize 100% cage-free eggs in its breakfast products by 2020. The commitment was originally made for a portion of their restaurants serving breakfast.

However, an animal welfare group has accused them of unlawful conduct and misleading its consumers through advertising to believe their breakfast products are made with 100% cage-free and certain animal welfare standards.

The complaint

The 15-page complaint filed by the organization on September 9 was done so under the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA). “The CPPA makes it a violation to represent that goods or services have a source, sponsorship, approval, certification, accessories, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities that they do not have,” stated the complaint. “A violation of the CPPA may occur regardless of “whether or not any consumer is in fact misled, deceived, or damaged.”

Because Wendy’s has advertised and marketed their products with animal welfare representations, they fall under this standard. Additionally, the animal welfare group claims that Wendy’s promised to transition to 100 percent cage-free eggs in U.S. and Canadian restaurants by 2020, meaning they would be in violation of the CPPA.

“Wendy’s marketing and advertising materials represent to consumers that Wendy’s menu items are produced in accordance with high animal welfare standards (the “Animal Welfare Representations”). Thus, Wendy’s marketing—which suggests that the Products are sourced in accordance with high animal welfare standards—is false and misleading to D.C. consumers,” stated the complaint.

Wendy’s Animal Welfare Program

“In 2016, a few hundred Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S. and a handful in Canada served breakfast, which was an optional menu offering for our operators. At that time, we made a commitment to source 100% of our eggs for those breakfast locations from a cage-free environment by 2020,” states Wendy’s Animal Welfare Program. 

“And as of year-end 2020, we have met that commitment. Today, we source a volume of eggs from cage-free environments that is sufficient to supply those original breakfast restaurants. However, since 2016, the total egg volumes for the Wendy’s system have increased substantially because we launched breakfast across the U.S. restaurant system in 2020. Approximately 5,800 U.S. restaurants now serve breakfast.”

“Today, cage free eggs represent more than 5% of our total U.S. egg supply, although that could change as regulations and expert guidance continue to evolve.”

Page 1 of 4
Next Page