Compassion in World Farming calls on Asda to follow the lead of parent company Walmart and end sales of eggs from caged hens
Walmart, the largest food retailer in the US, has announced that by 2025, 100% of the eggs it sells will come from cage-free hens. The commitment follows similar pledges from US fast food giants McDonalds, Taco bell and Wendy's, and several retail chains.
Although it's hard to see why it should take companies as powerful as these nearly 10 years to phase out cages, Compassion in World Farming, which has campaigned hard on the issue, foresees that within a decade, very few eggs sold in the US will come from caged birds.
According to CiWF, this is one of the few areas where the UK is falling behind the US on animal welfare. In 2012, when CiWF and other campaigners succeeded in persuading the EU to ban conventional hen cages, the new law contained a loophole that allowed them to be replaced with 'enriched' cages. These still restrict birds from expressing their natural behaviours -- for example they can barely stretch their wings. The US is by-passing this stage and going straight to higher-welfare systems.
Philip Lymbery, CEO of CiWF, said, 'Walmart’s announcement proves companies can do better for hens not just in the USA, but across the world. I urge Asda, and all other retailers in the UK and Europe still selling cage eggs to come out of the cage age and commit to going cage-free.'
Read about on Sustain's campaign work for a more humane food system here.
Published Friday 8 April 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
