Today Publix, the country’s third-largest traditional supermarket
chain, committed
to selling only cage-free eggs by 2026. The move affects all of its more than
1,100 stores and will spare more than 15 million egg-laying hens a lifetime of
suffering in tiny wire cages.
With this history-making commitment, every one of the 25
largest U.S. and Canadian grocers has now pledged to end its sale of eggs from
caged hens. It is clear that the blatantly cruel practice of caging hens is on
the road to oblivion.
Publix’s commitment follows a vigorous three-month campaign
by Mercy For Animals that included a
website exposing animal abuse in the retailer’s supply chain, volunteers
leafleting Publix stores throughout the Southeast, consumer call-ins, and a video ad featuring
children asking Publix to go cage-free. The Humane League and The Humane
Society of the United States also applied Publix pressure, as did a Change.org petition
and Compassion in World Farming during discussions.
The largest supermarket in the country not yet committed to
going cage-free is Hy-Vee. It’s high time Hy-Vee acknowledged that cramming
animals into cages is cruel and has no place in a civilized society. Click here to comment under Hy-Vee’s
most recent Facebook posts. Tell the company you won’t tolerate animal abuse
and that it’s time to go 100 percent cage-free!
Of course, the best way to help hens is to ditch eggs
altogether. Visit ChooseVeg.com for delicious egg-free tips
and recipes.