Despite the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, companies are sourcing increasing numbers of eggs from free-range or barn hens, according to Compassion in World Farming’s annual EggTrack report.
According to the 2020 report, which examines companies’ egg sourcing policies around the world, the increase in demand for cage-free eggs is growing globally and having an impact on the market.
Of 210 companies tracked, that made cage-free commitments, 134 (63%) of those had made progress towards their stated goals. 80 of those companies operate globally, 57 operate only in North America or the United States, and 73 operate only in Europe.
Since 2016, the number of companies with global cage-free commitments has grown from five to more than 37. This list includes global giants like Unilever, Nestlé, Grupo Bimbo, Compass Group, Aldi Nord, and Aldi Sud. Barilla is the only company to have met their global cage-free commitment, which it did in 2019.
A significant number of multinational companies such as brands like McDonald’s, Subway, Walmart, and Burger King, have committed to eliminate cages in some regions rather than their entire global supply chains.
Some findings from the the 2020 Egg Track include:
- General Mills increased its global cage-free sourcing from 40% to 55%
- Danone increased its global cage-free sourcing from 43% to 88%
- Aramark, Sodexo and Compass Group all reported global and US progress across all egg types: shell, liquid and processed
- McDonald’s is reporting 100% cage-free shell eggs in Europe, on both shell eggs and egg product/ingredients in four European countries (UK, Germany, France, Netherlands)
- Subway is reporting 100% cage-free for both shell eggs and egg products/ingredients in Europe
- Barilla is the only company to have met its global cage-free commitment in2019.
