Major food manufacturer pledges to use only cage-free eggs.

  • While concern for animal welfare is not a new concept, recent years have ushered in new marketplace opportunities and strategies for companies to indicate their continued commitment to the ethical treatment of livestock.
  • Major food manufacturer, General Mills, has announced a pledge to purchase eggs exclusively from cage-free suppliers.  The company joins a list of other major food industry players — such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Kraft Foods, Sara Lee, Safeway, and Starbucks — who have made similar commitments in this area.
  • Although no conclusive food safety benefits are linked to the consumption of cage-free eggs (versus battery cage eggs), the continuing shift toward cage-free buying practices indicates the market interest and potential benefits associated with food production and retail practices that focus on broader concepts such as sustainability and ethics.