Tesco to turn their back on cages

Published 13/07/2016

We are delighted that Tesco has announced its commitment to stop sourcing whole shell eggs from caged hens by 2025. This new policy will have a massive impact, which we estimate will improve the lives of nearly 2 million egg-laying hens per year.

Following the wave of US retailers pledging to go cage-free, we have been campaigning for major UK retailers to follow suit.

Nearly 20 million laying hens in the UK are currently kept in cages, denying them some of the most basic behaviours and depriving them a life worth living.

Leading the way

We have been working with Tesco for almost 20 years, recently forging strong links to ensure that following this announcement, changes to the sourcing of eggs will give hens a good quality of life in a rich and stimulating environment.

Tesco is now leading the way over other UK retailers that continue to sell eggs from caged hens, such as Asda, Morrison’s, Lidl and Aldi.

Back in April, Walmart, the largest grocer in the US, announced their commitment to switch to 100% cage-free eggs by 2025. However, despite being owned by Walmart, Asda, the second largest supermarket in Britain, has yet to commit to phasing out cages for hens.

More recently, Aldi pledged to begin phasing out eggs from caged hens in 2025, with an aim to go cage-free on whole shell eggs by 2030. Whilst we welcomed this positive move, the extended timescale was disappointing.

A bold commitment

Philip Lymbery, our CEO, says: “It is fantastic that Tesco are to go cage-free by 2025 and I would like to congratulate them for their bold commitment, and for doing the right thing for laying hens.

“I hope that this will be the catalyst needed for all other UK retailers to follow Tesco’s lead and phase out cages for good.”