May 12, 2006 - Google shows compassion while Loblaw continues hard-boiled stance on eggs
Humane Society says if Google can go cage-free, Loblaw should label eggs
Vancouver (May 12, 2006) – Following Google’s decision to use only cage-free eggs in all employee dining facilities, the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is urging Loblaw, the largest grocery retailer in Canada, to label its eggs from caged hens.
“There’s tremendous pressure on the corporate community to do the right thing and we anticipate companies will be scrambling to join Google,” says Bruce Passmore, Farm Animal Welfare Coordinator of the VHS. “In October, 2005, we released appalling images of a typical Canadian egg farm in Ontario owned by a veterinarian, and asked Loblaw to label their eggs. So far they have refused to do so.”
Passmore claims that egg packaging labels are extremely confusing for customers, who may be misled by terms such as “farm fresh” or “omega 3” into thinking that hens are kept in better living conditions than is the case. Almost 98% of eggs sold in Canada are from hens kept in cruel “battery” cages. Labelling these eggs as “eggs from caged hens” would help customers understand what they are buying so they can make an educated choice.
Google’s decision is significant, because the company uses 300,000 shell eggs and 7,000 pounds of liquid eggs a year. Other corporations making this ethical choice are AOL, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace and Palo Alto-based food service provider Bon Appetit. Over 80 schools and colleges in the US have also followed suit in their cafeterias.
“We’re very excited about Google,” continues Passmore. “But we need to get cracking here in Canada to reduce the suffering of these intelligent, social birds. Labelling eggs from caged hens at Loblaw stores would be a huge step forward and would demonstrate their corporate commitment to animal welfare. We’re not even asking them to stop selling them – just to label them. It’s a small thing for Lobaw that would make a huge difference to the hens.”
Canadian superstar Pamela Anderson has also written two letters to Loblaw in support of VHS’s request.
To see photos and video footage of inside an egg (battery) farm click here.
