Costco recommits to ‘cage-free’ eggs in US

The American wholesaler Costco has posted a recommitment to selling only “cage-free” eggs in its stores, following sustained campaigning from animal rights groups.

In the US, the company has come under a barrage of pressure to end the sale of eggs from caged hens. The most high-profile was a billboard on New York’s Times Square showing pictures of conditions on one of the farms that supplies the company.

Costco first said it would move to cage-free production in 2006, but did not offer a timeframe for the transition.

Highly-publicised letters calling for a date for a switch have been sent from celebrities such as Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.

In a statement on its website, the company has now announced it will begin to work towards creating a realistic timeframe, something it was unwilling to do before.

See also: Taco Bell races to go cage free in US

Costco said: “In calendar year 2016 we expect to sell more than 1bn cage-free eggs. We are working with our suppliers toward a complete and sustainable transition to a cage‐free supply chain.

“This transition, however, will take time, because currently more than 90% of the supply of eggs is from caged hens and because other retailers and restaurants are also moving to cage-free requirements, placing greater demands on the limited supply.”

The American egg industry is under intense pressure to lift the welfare of its laying hens, with several high-profile companies, such as McDonalds and Starbucks, phasing out egg from caged hens.

Costco’s move is significant because it is seen as a wholesaler, rather than a consumer-facing business.