Progress for farm animal welfare as Unilever improves egg-buying policies

Unilever, as a major global egg purchaser, is responding to calls from consumers for higher-welfare products and leading the way by adopting higher animal welfare standards. The company, which buys 350 million eggs each year in the U.S. alone, has recently pledged to work with egg industry leaders and the animal welfare community to improve animal welfare practices in its egg supply chain.   

Kara Mergl, U.S. Manager for Corporate Engagement for World Animal Protection, said, “This is good news for farm animals worldwide. Unilever, as an industry leader, is sending a clear message that it takes animal welfare seriously and is committed to putting in place sustainable business practices that meet its consumers’ demands and are good for animals.”

“We also commend them for striving to move to 100% cage-free eggs in all their products, and urge them to continue to uphold animal welfare as one of their core values.” 

Earlier this month, World Animal Protection announced a groundbreaking partnership with the world’s largest food company Nestlé, which pledged to improve its farm animal welfare practices. As Nestlé's key animal welfare partner, we’re providing them with guidance to ensure that their new standards, policies and procedures have the highest possible levels of welfare for the animals involved in global food production. 

World Animal Protection is working with both consumers and businesses to end the needless suffering of the 300 million hens in North America kept in cages – one of the cruelest and most inhumane practices in modern farming.

We commend Unilever for striving to move to 100% cage-free eggs in all their products and urge them to continue to uphold animal welfare as one of their core values