Bloomberg Businessweek Spotlights The Cage-Free Movement—And You’re At The Heart Of It
Julia Tomkins Wisner
Bloomberg Businessweek just spotlighted America’s cage-free milestone—and the supporters behind this progress. Here’s why this coverage matters for animals, and what it means for the future.
In July, something remarkable happened for animals—and for everyone who believes in transparency, compassion, and the right to know where our food comes from.
Bloomberg Businessweek, one of the world’s most widely read business publications, ran a feature about the US nearly reaching a milestone: half of the nation’s egg-laying hens are now spared from cages. And The Humane League’s work—and your role in it—was front and center.
Recognition on a global stage
Bloomberg’s coverage offers more than just numbers and headlines. It’s a signal that the story of cage-free progress, once a niche concern, is now making waves at the highest levels of business and policy. The article traces how, over the past decade, the US flock of cage-free hens has soared to over 130 million—almost five times what it was in 2012. That’s nearly half of all laying hens in the country who are now free from the confinement of tiny metal cages, thanks to waves of consumer demand, corporate promises, and landmark state laws like California’s Prop 12.
Bloomberg’s piece highlights the work of advocates, the resolve of supporters, and the undeniable impact of public demand. Major companies—including McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Nestlé—are not just meeting but exceeding their promises to spare hens from cages. Many, such as Starbucks and The Cheesecake Factory, have already hit their cage-free goals, beating their own deadlines. This is proof that when consumers and advocates join forces, even the biggest corporations listen—and act.
And it’s not just about policy or PR. Every cage-free promise fulfilled means living, feeling beings spared a life of suffering. It’s a testament to the ripple effect of every email sent, every petition signed, every conversation sparked by supporters like you.
Not everyone’s keeping their promises—yet
Progress is rarely a straight line. Bloomberg’s reporting, drawing from The Humane League’s latest Eggsposé, calls out companies that have stalled or stopped reporting on their progress—like Subway and Omni Hotels. By shining a national spotlight on these laggards, the article turns up the heat and reminds them that the public is watching.
The feature also covers the Trump administration’s latest attempt to roll back cage-free progress, this time through a lawsuit targeting California’s cage-free laws. But legal experts and advocates agree: this challenge is unlikely to succeed. As the article notes, “It will ultimately come down to consumer demand and the state laws on the books, not a Trump administration lawsuit with specious legal basis.”
Your impact is undeniable
Why does this coverage matter? Because it shows that every action—no matter how small—can create real change. The article’s reach means more people are learning about what’s at stake for hens, and more companies feel the pressure to keep (and accelerate) their promises. It’s a moment for supporters to feel validated, knowing that their efforts are transforming the world for animals.
Bloomberg’s article concludes with a sense of hard-fought optimism. There’s still work to do, but the direction is clear: the future is cage-free. And it’s only possible because people like you refused to accept that cruelty was the cost of doing business.
So, as the national conversation continues, let’s remember—this is your story being told. And together, we’re not just witnessing history. We’re making it.
