Nestlé meets pledge and joins EU cage-free egg call

Nestlé has joined a call for the European Union to outlaw cages for laying hens, after meeting its own pledge to use only cage-free eggs in all its food products in Europe.

Nestlé has partnered with Compassion in World Farming and leading food companies in calling on EU Policy makers to phase out the use of cages in animal farming, starting with laying hens.

The campaign recognises that cage-free systems provide animals with much better quality of life, and much progress has already been made in switching to cage-free.

This call was inspired by the results of the European Citizens' Initiative 'End the Cage Age', which calls for the end of cages in animal farming across Europe.

In 2018, more than 170 European NGOs joined the initiative and collected 1.4 million verified signatures to become the first successful European Citizens Initiative on farmed animal welfare.

Magdi Batato, Nestlé Executive Vice President and Head of Operations, said the company is proud to meet its pledge and join the Compassion in World Farming initiative.

The pledge said the company would make the transition to cage-free eggs in Europe and the US transition by the end of 2020, which it has now achieved.

For the rest of the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania, Nestlé pledges to do so by 2025 and in Asia it aims for the same transition period as conditions allow.

Nestlé uses approximately 4500 tons of eggs annually in Europe for its food brands including mayonnaise from Thomy and Winiary and some vegetarian products in the Garden Gourmet portfolio.

"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," Batato said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Tomasz Zajda