ConAgra Foods targets 100% cage-free eggs by 2025

ConAgra Foods, one of North America’s leading food companies, has announced that it will work toward a supply of 100 percent cage-free eggs in its US operations by 2025.

Commenting on the announcement, Chris Stockwell, Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, ConAgra Foods, “This decision is part of ConAgra’s ongoing commitment to the humane and safe treatment of animals. Since 2011, we have incorporated one million cage-free eggs into our supply chain annually, and today’s announcement reflects the culmination of our ongoing effort to explore cage-free as a viable alternative to traditional egg supplies. We believe that not only is this the right thing to do from an animal welfare perspective, but it also allows us to satisfy growing consumer demand for cage-free eggs.”

ConAgra encourages suppliers to purchase from compliant farms

ConAgra’s Supplier Quality Programme outlines specific expectations for appropriate animal care, and the company continues to expand and refine this programme. In addition, the company says it encourages all of its suppliers to purchase only from farms that comply with industry guidelines, including those established by the USDA and the Food Marketing Institute.

In October last year, Kellogg Company announced its plans to source only cage-free eggs for its US operations by the end of 2025. Similarly, in December 2015, Nestlé announced that it aims to use 100 percent cage-free eggs in US products by 2020. Nestlé also said it was developing cage-free pilot projects for Europe and RoW.