Most egg laying hens in India are confined in battery cages that provide each bird less space than a sheet of paper to spend her entire life. “By not using eggs from caged hens, Chef Mako has taken an important stand against one of the most inhumane factory farming abuses,” said N.G.Jayasimha, campaign manager of HSI’s factory farming campaign in India.
“I am pleased to switch to only using cage-free eggs, which is a great way to improve animal welfare and meet our customers’ expectations for being socially responsible,” said Chef Mako.
Chef Mako’s commitment to adopt a cage free egg policy comes as a major worldwide movement against cruel and inhumane cages is taking root. Austria, Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland have already banned battery cages. A complete ban on conventional battery cages throughout the European Union takes effect in 2012. The U.S. states of California and Michigan have passed laws to phase out the use of cages to confine hens. California has also passed a law requiring that all whole eggs sold statewide be cage-free by 2015. In the U.S. state of Ohio , agriculture leaders agreed to a moratorium on the construction of new battery-cage egg facilities.
Prominent United States corporations from Burger King to Safeway are switching to cage-free eggs. In India, Crowne Plaza Today-Gurgaon and specialty restaurant Hao Shi Nian Nian have shifted to cage-free eggs.