Cage Free eggs: the truth, the promise, the consumer expectations, 2 lists of the leaders and the losers

 

One mission. 20 years. Millions of lives. In twenty years, we’ve helped spare 169 million hens from cages—and that’s just in the US. Globally, we’ve protected millions more. Now, let’s finish what we started—and ensure every cage, everywhere, stands empty. www.humaneleague.org As The Humane League marked two decades of work dismantling factory farming this year, we asked ourselves a question: How should we celebrate this milestone? We decided to celebrate you all  see your timeline During these past 20 years, you and so many like minded people have shown that even the most entrenched systems of cruelty can collapse when people refuse to look away. You've been part of a grassroots movement with global reach, forcing some of the world's largest corporations to answer for animal abuse. You’ve raised your voice on behalf of the most vulnerable—and changed the lives of millions. As the sun sets on these last two decades, it’s rising on a world where animals are no longer invisible. Thank you for refusing to let them be forgotten. The 2025 Eggsposé evaluates major restaurant brands and convenience stores on their cage-free egg commitments. With consumer trust at an all-time low, companies failing to deliver risk more than bad press—they risk losing customer loyalty in a highly competitive industry. Restaurant leaders like McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Starbucks already source 100% cage-free eggs. Subway, Chick-fil-A, and Bojangles, pledged to go cage-free but failed to provide evidence of action. Crumbl, Tropical Smoothie Café, and Waffle House refuse to set cage-free policies, falling behind competitors and consumer expectations. "2025 is the most pivotal year yet for the shift to cage-free eggs, and consumers are watching closely to see which companies follow through," said Liz Fergus, Corporate Relations Manager, The Humane League. "Despite bird flu and supply chain fluctuations, leading companies have proven that cage-free is not only possible—it's already happening among responsible companies." The report examines industry challenges, including the impact of avian flu on egg supply and prices, sharing insights from animal welfare scientists and corporate relations experts. Despite these impacts, egg producers continue to shift away from cages and food companies report transparent progress on their cage-free goals: Egg producers expect a stable cage-free egg supply through 2026, showing no excuse for companies backtracking. According to the USDA (3/21/25), 74% of birds (22,381,620) lost to avian flu this year were kept in cages—causing shortages of conventional eggs while the costs of cage-free eggs remain stable in many states. Producers are investing millions to meet cage-free demands, and 70.6% of producers added cage-free housing in 2024. 87% of customers would support their grocery store exclusively selling cage-free eggs. In response to consumer demand, state legislation, and corporate responsibility, over 42% of U.S. egg-laying hens are now cage-free, up from 10.5% in 2014. The Eggsposé applauds the following leaders for eliminating cages from their egg supply chains, proving that responsible sourcing is achievable and good for business: McDonald's (100% cage-free in the U.S. ahead of schedule) Starbucks (100% cage-free in the U.S. since 2023) TGI Fridays (100% cage-free in the U.S. since 2019) Shake Shack (100% cage-free in the U.S. since 2017) Carl's Jr. (100% cage-free in the U.S., ahead of schedule) The Cheesecake Factory (100% cage-free in the U.S., ahead of schedule) Olive Garden (100% cage-free in the U.S. since 2018) First Watch (100% cage-free in the U.S. since 2023) The report exposes the following laggards for not reporting progress or committing to remove cages from egg supply chains, leaving consumers questioning their trustworthiness: Crumbl Cookies (no cage-free policy) Subway (2015 pledge to go cage-free by 2025) Wendy's (2016 pledge to go cage-free by 2020) Chick-fil-A (2016 pledge to go cage-free by 2026) Bojangles (2015 pledge to go cage-free by 2025) Bob Evans (2016 pledge to go cage-free by 2025) Circle K (2018 pledge to go cage-free by 2025) With 2025 marking the end of self-imposed decade-long deadlines, companies dragging their feet face mounting pressure from consumers, investors, and regulators. The Humane League urges all companies to eliminate cages from their supply chains, fulfill their commitments, and publicly report their cage-free progress to consumers. To read the 2025 Eggsposé, visit CageFreeEggpose.com. To take action for animals, visit EndCages.com.

The Shocking Reality of Rabbit Welfare in EU Farms : Fortunately excellent progress made towards phasing out cages in Sweden and Slovenia

While we wait for the European Commission to officially ban cages in the EU - a change we hope is imminent, due to the huge success of the “End the Cage Age” ECI, and the subsequent declaration by Commissioner Varhelyi that a ban on caged farming will be included in the revised animal welfare legislation - a couple of Member States have been making noteworthy progress towards phasing out cages in their national contexts. 

99% of laying hens in Sweden are free from cages

According to the latest statistics from the Swedish egg industry, the number of hens kept in cages in the country has fallen dramatically. 

When Project 1882 started its mission to phase out cages 17 years ago, roughly 40 percent of laying hens were caged in Sweden. This figure has now fallen to less than one percent, in large part thanks to the several companies that have committed to stop using eggs sourced from caged hens. 

Due to this significant decrease, spurred along by Project 1882’s campaigning efforts to get wholesalers, restaurants, and consumers to exclude eggs from their purchases, it is estimated that over two million hens have been saved from a life of confinement since 2008, with 90,000 in the past year alone.

Reflecting this excellent development, Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882, surmises Sweden should “lead the way” when it comes to addressing a phase-out of cages at EU level, adding that “a comprehensive EU ban” is something we have been promised. 

The Slovenian government has announced it will phase out cages 

Over in Slovenia, the government has officially committed to phasing out cages by 2028, and will now work on putting this into law. 

This advancement is owed to the work of our member, the Animal Enterprise Transparency Project, which has been advocating tirelessly for a ban on cages. Through its 2024 “Slovenia Against Cages” campaign, it amassed signatures calling for an end to the cage age and shared informative materials on the experiences of caged animals. It also called on the Ministry, coordinated investigative releases, and worked with influencers and allies to spread the word about the need for a cage ban. 

As the results from the 2023 Eurobarometer showed, 19 out of 20 EU citizens oppose the use of cages, and 94% of Slovenians think it’s important to protect farm animals. This latest government statement is therefore extremely welcome, and bodes positively for the state of animal welfare in the country. 

We started working on a national-level cage ban because we are tired of waiting for the EU to help Slovenian animals, and tired of their broken promises. On the other hand, we hope a ban on cages in another Member State will provide additional momentum for the European Commission to finally end the cage age, producing the EU-wide legislation these vulnerable animals need.

Samo Curk, President, Animal Enterprise Transparency Project

Working towards a cage-free future in the EU

Member States are proving it’s entirely possible and realistic to phase out cages. Along with Sweden and Slovenia, several have reported significant progress towards this goal, including Luxembourg, Austria, and Germany. 

However, there is still one missing piece to protect the progress that has been made in these nations. European legislation is clearly called for by citizens and decision-makers alike, including those involved in the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture.

Phasing out cages in the EU: the road to a smooth transition

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