Nestlé is now using only cage-free eggs in all its food products across Europe, fulfilling a pledge it made in 2017.
As part of its broader commitment to animal welfare, the Swiss multinational has now joined a call to outlaw cages for laying hens in the European Union.
Nestlé is partnering with Compassion in World Farming and leading food companies in calling on EU policymakers to phase out the use of cages in animal farming, starting with laying hens.
Cage-Free System
The campaign recognizes that cage-free systems provide animals with a better quality of life, and much progress has already been made in switching to cage-free.
Magdi Batato, Nestlé executive vice president and head of operations, Nestlé, said, "We are proud to have achieved 100% cage-free eggs in our food products across Europe."
Batato added that the group "fully supports the Compassion in World Farming initiative to outlaw cages for laying hens."
The initiative drew inspiration from the results of the European Citizens' Initiative 'End the Cage Age', which calls for the end of cages in animal farming across Europe.
The First Successful Initiative
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.
Nestlé uses approximately 4,500 tonnes of eggs annually in Europe for its food brands, including mayonnaise from Thomy and Winiary and some vegetarian products in the Garden Gourmet portfolio.
The company has set the goal to source eggs only from cage-free hens for all its food products globally by 2025, and to continue driving improvements in farm animal welfare.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
