EA Forum Podcast (Curated & popular) “Crunch time for cage-free” by LewisBollard
Jun 24, 2025
Lewis Bollard, a researcher at Open Philanthropy focused on farm animal welfare, shares insights on the shift towards cage-free egg production. He discusses the commitments of over 2,700 companies, including giants like McDonald’s and Walmart, and the challenges they've faced. Despite setbacks, consumer demand is driving significant progress. Bollard critiques corporate excuses for not meeting pledges and highlights the need for transparency. He also explores the pricing dynamics of cage-free versus caged eggs and the crucial advocacy efforts pushing this movement forward.
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Mixed Progress on Cage-Free Pledges
- Over 2,700 companies pledged to go cage-free by 2025, but many are missing their deadlines.
- Despite setbacks, large percentages of hens in the US, Europe, and UK are now cage-free, showing real progress.
Cage-Free Adoption by Major Companies
- Many major companies have already implemented cage-free pledges successfully.
- European markets lead the transition, with several countries close to phasing out cages entirely within 5-10 years.
Excuses vs Reality for Cage-Free Delay
- Companies blame customer demand, high prices, and supply problems for not meeting cage-free goals.
- True demand is for cheap eggs, but cage-free eggs are often priced higher due to retailer margins, not production costs.
