Wal-Mart to Sell 100% Cage-Free Eggs By 2025
By Staff Writer
Apr 07, 2016 06:26 AM EDT
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LAKEVIEW, CA DECEMBER 19, 2014: 8,000 brown Leghorn and white Leghorn chickens roam about a cage-free aviary system barn at Hilliker's Ranch Fresh Eggs, a family business since 1942, in Lakeview, which has one barn converted to cage-free and other planned soon Friday, December 19, 2014. Egg farmers are rushing to comply with a landmark California law set to begin Jan. 1 that all but eliminates the confinement of hens in cages. (Photo : Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
LAKEVIEW, CA DECEMBER 19, 2014: Lisa Hilliker uses lights to candle eggs to make sure they are good for sale at Hilliker's Ranch Fresh Eggs, a family business since 1942, in Lakeview, which has one barn converted to cage-free and others planned soon Friday, December 19, 2014. Egg farmers are rushing to comply with a landmark California law set to begin Jan. 1 that all but eliminates the confinement of hens in cages. (Photo : Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart, the nation's largest grocery chain announced on Tuesday that it targets to cease its sale of egg from caged hens come 2025. Its egg suppliers will be required to practice an industry standard for the way hens are being treated by 2025 and have their submissiveness checked by a third party.
It had signaled of its plan of switching to cage-free eggs in May when it announced that it would persuade its suppliers to cling to the "five principles" of animal welfare, which is a set of guidelines including the surety of animals not starving, do not suffer from mental distress and have enough space to move around, according to NBC News.
"Our commitment to transition to a cage-free egg supply chain recognizes that expectation and represents another step we are taking to improve transparency for food we sell in our U.S. stores and clubs," said Kathleen McLaughlin, chief sustainability officer at Walmart.
Since 2001, Wal-Mart has sold cage-free eggs and would meet the 2025 target depending on "available supply, affordability and customer demand." The company also provided particular prerequisites including the minimum space of 1.0 square foot for each hen, nests and perches.
Cage-free eggs are more costly compared to eggs from hens raised in cages. The most recent figures for a dozen of large white eggs are only at $1.29 which is cheaper compared to cage-free eggs at $2.99, according to the Department of Agriculture as reported by MSN.
Cost seems not to discourage consumers from buying cage-free eggs as it becomes popular. A dozen white cage-free eggs unit sales stated for the 52 weeks that ended Feb. 20 were up 20.4% in contrast to a year ago, while non-cage free egg unit sales dropped to 3.8%, based on the Nielsen figures.
Wal-Mart had recently discovered itself the target of the Humane Society, which in late 2009 presented a shareholder resolution with the retailer that called on the company to inform how it planned to shift to cage-free eggs. Wal-Mart lately confirmed that all of the company's private label eggs under "Great Value" were cage free - directing the advocacy group to pull back its resolution, Fortune reports.
By the year 2025, all of the eggs that Wal-Mart will sell will be cage-free. This is to support the advocacy for the kind treatment to animals providing them sufficient food, spacious coop to roam around freely and do not suffer from mental distress.
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