ADM and Carrefour among businesses ramping up cage-free food calls

10-Sep-2024 - Last updated on 10-Sep-2024 at 14:05 GMT

Pressure heats up as big food and drink businesses call for an end to caged farming. Source: Compassion in World Farming

Europe’s biggest food and beverage companies are rallying in support of a complete ban on caged food production.

The renewed calls follow the publication of the EU’s Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture this month, recommending an end to caged farming by 2026.

Critics however slammed the report, labelling it a “political delay” tactic to gain favour with voters during elections.

Over 1.4m European citizens had signed the End the Cage Age initiative, making it clear many consumers don’t believe in caged farming, said the UK’s animal welfare campaign group Compassion in World Farming (CIWF).

What food animals are kept in cages?

Businesses are phasing out cages but 300m farm animals remain caged across the EU, including 40% of laying hens; 90% of farmed ducks; 94% of farmed rabbits; and 96% of breeding sows.

“Carrefour’s cage-free eggs initiative is part of our approach to protect the welfare of farm animals, and its goal is to support customers in making the right food choices. That is why we also support the introduction of an EU-wide ban on cages for laying hens,” said a Carrefour spokesperson.

Over 1,400 commitments among Europe’s leading food and drink businesses have been made for cage-free laying hens, 800 of which have been fulfilled, said CIWF’s cage-free report.

This is being driven by rising consumer demand for better animal welfare in food production, with 94% of EU citizens believing animals should have more space and 89% stating farm animals should not be kept in individual cages.

“It is encouraging to see an increasing number of food companies across the European Union voluntarily phasing out cages in their supply chain,” said CIWF global CEO Philip Lymbery.

Country	Laying hens	Sows	Rabbits
Austria	Cages banned since 2020	Dry sow stalls limited to 10 days since 2013 Farrowing crates banned from temporary six-day crating from 2033	Banned since 2012
Belgium	Cages banned by 2028		Banned for meat rabbits since 2016. Banned for does from 2025
Czech Republic	Cages banned from 2027
Denmark	88.8% cage-free	Dry sow stalls limited to 3 days
Finland		Up to 5 day confinement for farrowing sows
France	New cage systems banned since 2018
Germany	Banned from 2026/96.2% cage-free	Dry sow stalls banned by 2028 Farrowing sows banned from 2035 with 5-day temporary crating	Barren cages banned from 2025
Luxembourg	Cage-free
Netherlands	89.9 cage-free	Dry sow stalls limited to 4 days since 2013	Barren cages banned since 2016 60-70% of meat rabbits are cage-free
Slovenia	82.8% cage-free
Sweden	97.3% cage-free	Dry sow stalls banned in 1994 Farrowing sow crates banned since 1987

Phase out cages in farming

“As a matter of urgency, the European Commission must honour its commitment and present a legislative proposal to phase out the use of cages for all farmed species as soon as possible.”

Caged animals across the EU in numbers:

155m laying hens (40%)
72m rabbits (94%)
30m ducks (90%)
10m breeding sows (96%)
Tens-of-millions of other animals, including quail, pullets and dairy calves

Scientists have also lent their support to campaigning businesses seeking to stamp out caged food production but point out the need for a timeline to ensure producers can put measures in place ahead of a ban.

“Citizens are demanding change,” said CIWF global director of food business Dr Tracey Jones. “Businesses are proving that large-scale cage-free farming is not only achievable, but the right thing to do – for their customers, their brand and the animals in their supply chain.

“With the future of cages hanging in the balance, producers need clarity on timescales, system requirements and transition support.”