Today Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, announced its commitment to improving animal welfare in its entire supply chain by switching to 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2025. The policy affects all its stores and affiliate locations, including Ralphs, Dillons, Fry’s Food Stores, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, Smith’s Food and Drug, and QFC. The move will spare countless hens a life of suffering in tiny wire battery cages.
Kroger’s new cage-free commitment follows a campaign by The Humane League and similar announcements by grocers Albertsons, Safeway, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Delhaize, Giant, Stop & Shop, Target, CVS, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. Further, nearly 100 other retailers, restaurants, foodservice companies, and food manufacturers have pledged to go cage-free in the last year.
Caged egg production is inherently cruel. Stuffed into cages so small the birds can’t walk, spread their wings, or engage in other natural behaviors, these intelligent, sensitive animals are subjected to horrific cruelty and neglect. Many birds become trapped and painfully mangled in cage wire or under feed trays and often suffer and die. Dead hens are left to rot alongside birds still laying eggs for human consumption. Battery cages are so cruel they’ve been banned by California, Michigan, and the European Union.
It’s commendable that Kroger has made the socially responsible choice to adopt an exclusively cage-free egg policy. While cage-free doesn’t mean cruelty-free, Kroger’s leadership on this issue will spare millions of animals from unspeakable cruelty. Kroger’s decision to adopt this policy is a tipping point for the industry. As the nation’s largest grocer, Kroger’s cage-free commitment will alleviate the suffering of countless hens in its supply chain and inspire other grocers to make similar animal welfare commitments.
Of course, the best way to help hens is to leave eggs off your plate. Try these delicious egg-free recipes and baking alternatives instead.
