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, which will spare countless hens a life of suffering in tiny wire battery cages, has been applauded by the international animal protection organization Mercy For Animals.
The new cage-free commitment by Kroger follows similar announcements by grocers Albertsons, Safeway, Delhaize, Giant, Stop & Shop, Costco, Target, CVS, Trader Joe’s, and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
In addition, 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, says Mercy for Animals. 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 unspeakable 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.
“We praise Kroger for making the socially responsible choice to adopt a cage-free egg policy. Kroger’s leadership on this issue will spare millions of animals from unspeakable cruelty,” said Nathan Runkle, President of MFA. “Kroger has really stepped up to the plate and put ethics into action. Kroger’s move to adopt an exclusively cage-free egg policy is a tipping point for the industry. As the nation’s largest grocer, Kroger’s cage-free egg commitment will alleviate the suffering of countless hens in its supply chain and inspire other grocers to make similar animal welfare commitments.”
David Coman-Hidy, executive director of The Humane League, said “We applaud Kroger for listening to the concerns of its customers and The Humane League’s supporters and committing to going 100% cage-free. This will have a huge impact on the future of animal welfare in the U.S.”
From Mercy for Animals
Just because the chickens aren’t in cages doesn’t mean they’re lives will be any better. In fact, unless they give a WHOLE lot more room to them, they will peck themselves to death. There’s a reason it’s call “a pecking order”. That’s what chickens do, and the poor chickens at the end of the line really suffer. And just because the beaks are clipped (another disgusting practice), that doesn’t mean these birds won’t find other ways to attack.
Chickens aren’t very bright animals, but they sure believe in status.