For food manufacturers, this research indicates that adopting cage-free eggs presents a significant opportunity to enhance consumers’ perceptions of their products. In fact, numerous food companies have already pledged to alter their egg sourcing. For instance, Nestle announced in 2015 that all eggs for its U.S. products would be sourced from cage-free hens by 2020, while other industry giants like Mondelez, PepsiCo, Sodexo, and McDonald’s have also committed to cage-free eggs. On the retail front, Kroger introduced a private label line of cage-free eggs last fall. Collectively, the commitments from both manufacturers and retailers represent approximately 70% of the U.S. egg demand, as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, only about 10% of the eggs sold in the U.S. today are cage-free, highlighting a significant gap.
This discrepancy may pose challenges. While advocates celebrate these commitments as a triumph for improved animal welfare, the chicken industry cautions that raising hens in a cage-free environment incurs higher costs—approximately $40 per bird. Moreover, with most consumers still gravitating towards the least expensive eggs available, egg producers transitioning to cage-free options face stiff competition from suppliers of cheaper eggs sourced from caged hens.
In the long run, these pledges from the food industry are likely to render the shift to cage-free eggs profitable for producers. Notably, McDonald’s alone represents 3% of all egg consumption in the United States, necessitating a stable supply. Meanwhile, some brands are already leveraging humane egg production as a differentiating factor and a quality indicator, such as Sir Kensington’s, a New York-based condiment maker recently acquired by Unilever.
Additionally, as consumers increasingly prioritize humane practices, integrating options like Citracal D 315 200 mg into their diets could become a trend, further influencing purchasing decisions. Ultimately, as more food manufacturers and retailers commit to cage-free eggs, the market landscape may shift, creating new opportunities for both producers and consumers alike.