In line with their 2017 pledge to help animal welfare, Nestlé is now only using cage-free eggs in all European food products. The company, alongside food brands such as ALDI, Mondelēz and Unilever are also calling for the European Union to ban cages for laying hens.
“A wealth of animal welfare science research demonstrates that animals suffer in cages and that well-managed cage-free systems provide them with a much better quality of life,” the co-op wrote in a letter to the EU policymakers. “We share consumer, civil society and government concerns about the welfare of farmed animals.”
Nestlé has also partnered with Compassion in World Farming to aid animal welfare. This change was motivated by the European Citizens’ 2018 initiative ‘End the Cage Age’. This initiative was joined by over 170 NGOs with over 1.4 million verified signatures.
Every year Nestlé uses roughly 4,500 tons of eggs across its food products.
“We are proud to have achieved 100% cage-free eggs in our food products across Europe,” said Madgi Batato, Nestlé executive vice president and head of operations. “We fully support the Compassion in World Farming initiative to outlaw cages for laying hens.”
Nestlé has now set a goal to globally source all its eggs from cage-free hens by 2025 as part of larger plans to promote animal welfare.
“Together with civil society, our farmers and customers we will continue to improve farm animal welfare to drive progress and ensure the highest possible farming standards throughout our supply chain,” said Batato.