Soon, both Groupe Le Duff and Focus Brands will no longer be using cage eggs worldwide, thereby considerably increasing animal welfare for laying hens. Products from well-known brands such as Brioche Dorée and Kamps (Le Duff) as well as Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s and Jamba (Focus Brands) will be 100% cage-free by 2028 at the latest at more than 7,800 locations all over the world. The commitment was preceded by a global campaign led by the Open Wing Alliance (OWA). The OWA consists of 80 animal protection groups, one of them being the Albert Schweitzer Foundation.
In Germany, the Le Duff brand Kamps already led the way with a complete changeover in 2014. Following this, the two bakery groups had planned to go cage-free in other business segments and countries as well. Most recently, some 80,000 people worldwide signed petitions urging Le Duff and Focus Brands to stop supporting the cruel caging of laying hens altogether. On top, several protests took place, both online and offline.
Mahi Klosterhalfen, president of the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, sees a global trend emerging: »In Europe alone, half of the laying hens in the egg industry are still being held in cages. It is high time to end this cruel practice worldwide. Le Duff and Focus Brands, both being global players, are sending a clear signal by abolishing cage eggs. On top, we have received another 100 commitments from companies who also want to phase out cage eggs worldwide. They are all contributing to reducing the suffering of several hundred million animals and are clearly showing: the future is indisputably cage-free.«
All brands of Groupe Le Duff and Focus Brands will no longer be using cage eggs in their products at all of their locations. This particularly refers to all baked goods having egg as an ingredient. The transition will take place gradually and will be complete by 2025 (Le Duff) and 2028 (Focus Brands) at the latest.
Organizations and Companies agree: Cages are a thing of the past
Battery cages and furnished cages mean close confinement and mesh floors for laying hens. The animals can barely move, let alone peck, dust bathe or flap their wings. It is not uncommon for their feet, wings or heads to get stuck in the wiring of the cages, causing serious injury. Some chickens are even crushed to death by others.
In Germany, the caging of laying hens will be forbidden starting from 2028 at the latest. However, in other countries of the EU and across the world it is still common practice. Not to forget that even in Germany, cage eggs can still be used as ingredients in processed foods, which is yet another important reason for the abolition of cage eggs on a global scale.
In cooperation with the animal protection groups of the OWA, more than 2,200 companies have committed to phasing out cage eggs. Among them are 100 companies that will go cage-free for all their locations worldwide ― including Nestlé, Unilever, Yum Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, amongst others), Metro, Aldi, Rewe and several international hotel chains.
Our Tip: Baking without animal products
The Albert Schweitzer Foundation has composed a brochure for all bakeries that would like to offer their customers baked goods without any animal products as ingredients. The brochure was created in cooperation with the master baker and pastry chef Thomas Backenstos of the Akademie Deutsches Bäckerhandwerk Südwest e. V. (Academy of the baker’s trade in Southwest Germany) and contains great tips and recipes for entirely plant-based baked goods.
Links
- Focus Brands’ commitment: https://www.focusbrands.com/animal-welfare
- Groupe Le Duff’s commitment:
https://en.groupeleduff.com/news/le-duff-group-continues-its-commitment-to-animal-welfare-with-a-goal-of-100-cage-free-eggs-by - More about the Cage-Free Initiative:
https://albertschweitzerfoundation.org/campaigns/ending-use-battery-cages - The Albert Schweitzer Foundation’s Vegan Guide for Bakeries:
https://albertschweitzerfoundation.org/news/vegan-guide-bakeries