Animal welfare activist groups Humane League and Open Wing Alliance (OWA) recently published reports identifying companies that are behind or not reporting on their cage-free sourcing progress.
However, both reports failed to mention the burden that the egg industry is facing as it moves through the first quarter of 2023.
Cage-free logistics
Many companies are not meeting their commitments because the egg industry has not had enough time to convert their operations to satisfy both cage-free customer requirements and housing legislation.
In fact, the pressure to convert has forced some egg producers to spend millions on the construction or go out of business entirely. Additionally, the strain has caused some of the largest grocery store sectors in the U.S., Walmart and Kroger, to state that they will not be able to fulfill their pledges.
Most consumers do not know about this financially and logistically impossible situation the egg industry is faced with and the activist groups are telling them companies are intentionally not meeting their commitments.
Avian influenza
Neither report addresses the widespread highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak currently going on in the U.S. that has caused over 43 million layers to be depopulated. The outbreak started in late 2021 and has yet to subside.
Because it takes time for producers to repopulate their flocks, the egg supply has been put under even more pressure, which is reflected in current egg prices at the grocery store.
Informing the egg industry’s consumers on all facets of the situation will help them understand the immense pressure the egg industry is under, and why some commitments have not been met.
What the reports said
Humane League’s Eggsposé report covers U.S. companies, with most being food service brands that consumers frequently use. OWA’s Manufacturers report focuses on manufacturing companies that the average consumer may not recognize.
Most of the companies reported on in the Humane League’s cage-free update are highlighted for not reporting progress on their cage-free commitments. Other companies were highlighted for removing cage-free policies from their websites or only converted a portion of their locations. No companies were featured for meeting their commitments or being on track.
OWA’s report ranks manufacturers on their cage-free sourcing progress and identifies many companies as “underperformers.”
The OWA update states that the “underperformers” are neglecting to report on their progress and refusing to engage in dialogue regarding their status. However, it notes that most companies across all sectors are publicly reporting on progress and fulfilling their commitments.
