Battery Cage Eggs: Legacy and Continuing Global Problem

Despite EU bans, conventional battery cages continue to house billions of hens globally, including through imported egg products.

Key Facts

The EU banned conventional battery cages in 2012; enriched colony cages replaced them but remain controversial
The US is progressively banning battery cages state-by-state, with California's Proposition 12 a landmark
Approximately 8 billion laying hens globally still live in battery cage conditions
Egg products (mayonnaise, processed foods, bakery) are exempt from many cage-free commitments
Battery cage hens cannot perform any natural behaviour including wing extension throughout their lives

Welfare Considerations

Battery cages are the most extreme example of routinely practised farm animal welfare failure at scale. A battery-caged hen cannot walk, turn around, spread her wings, dustbathe, nest, perch, or perform any natural behaviour throughout her entire laying life. The EU ban eliminated the worst of this for EU-produced eggs, but imported egg products and global supply chains continue to involve battery egg production. Consumer pressure for cage-free commitments in processed food — not just shell eggs — is the frontier of this issue.

What You Can Do

Choose cage-free eggs and check egg-containing products for cage-free commitments
Advocate for cage-free requirements in food service and catering procurement
Support cage-free campaigns targeting major food manufacturers using egg products
Learn to identify processed food products that contain battery cage eggs
Support international campaigns to accelerate global battery cage elimination