News

Costco commits to cage-free eggs

costco-wholesaleGrocery retailer Costco says it plans to offer only cage-free eggs in the future, becoming the first major grocery chain to make that commitment.

But the company stopped short of setting a definite timeline for reaching that goal. In a statement, Costco says the transition will take some time because over 90 percent of the supply of eggs still comes from caged hens. And because other retailers and restaurants are also moving to cage-free, Costco says, it places greater demand on the limited supply.

Costco says that, over the past ten years, it has substantially increased the percentage of cage-free eggs it offers. The percentage of cage-free eggs sold at Costco has increased from two percent in 2006 to 26 percent today. The company says it expects to sell over one-billion cage-free eggs in 2016.

Costco has been under intense pressure from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to make the cage-free commitment. In June, HSUS released an undercover video allegedly shot at one of Costco’s major egg suppliers in Pennsylvania showing what HSUS called “repugnant treatment of hens”.

Costco is reportedly the second largest retailer in the world, after Walmart, and the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!