Jennie Hunter
In a rousing success for the Open Wing Alliance and animal activists worldwide, The Cheesecake Factory pledged to source only cage-free eggs for their global supply chains. This victory marks another major animal welfare shift for egg-laying hens.
In partnership with animal activists around the world, the Open Wing Alliance has done it again. Just weeks after launching a targeted animal welfare campaign against The Cheesecake Factory, the food industry conglomerate pledged to accelerate its bakery operations’ global transition to sourcing only cage-free eggs and egg products by the end of 2022—3 years ahead of their previously proposed schedule.
By eliminating the use of cruel and inhumane cages for egg-laying hens in their supply chains, The Cheesecake Factory is the latest in a number of organizations to adopt comprehensive global animal welfare policies.
Public campaigns led by the Open Wing Alliance, a global coalition of more than 80 major animal protection organizations across 63 countries, are driving more victories for animals than ever before. Thanks to the combined efforts of animal activists in partnership with the OWA, 100+ global companies pledged to eliminate the use of cruel cages over the last few years, and over 100 million hens will never face life in a cage.
"We’re pleased to see global restaurants take such a positive step towards improving their treatment of animals raised for their menu items all around the world,” says Aaron Ross, Vice President Policy and Strategy, The Humane League. “Consumers are demanding better across the board, and companies like this are taking the necessary action by committing to remove cruel battery cages from their global supply chains."
Changing the world for egg-laying hens
By taking action to amplify the Open Wing Alliance’s latest campaign, changemakers like you are making a tremendous difference for animals on factory farms. You sent a strong message to The Cheesecake Factory that animal welfare remains a critical issue, and we will not look away. Through your social media comments, phone calls, emails, and signed petitions, you let this company know that hens deserve better, and you helped numerous chickens avoid a lifetime of abuse.
What is The Cheesecake Factory?
The Cheesecake Factory operates 306 restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. The company also has 29 international restaurants operating under licensing agreements, and their products can be found in Barnes & Noble bookstores across the nation. Now, The Cheesecake Factory has pledged to switch all of their cakes to incorporate only cage-free eggs by the end of 2022—just nine months from now—and the remainder of their products will source only cage-free eggs by 2030 or sooner. Because eggs used in cakes account for 90% of The Cheesecake Factory’s egg purchases, this victory will make a substantial difference.
Why are these global policies good for chickens?
Egg-laying hens endure a lifetime of abuse on factory farms. Chickens live in restrictive battery cages that are so cramped, hens barely have room to move, let alone spread their wings. These cages can be as small as a filing cabinet drawer, but each one houses four to ten birds. Because of such tight, filthy confines, hens can get trampled to death by their fellow chickens, or can suffer from broken bones and feather loss from getting caught in their own cages.
As some of the largest companies in the world commit to ending the use of battery cages, others are following suit. And as consumer demand for cage-free eggs increases, corporations around the world are adopting policies to end the use of outdated battery cages in their supply chains. Those include:
- Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
- Pizza Hut
- Taco Bell
- Burger King
- Dunkin’
- Krispy Kreme
- Unilever
- Nestlé
- Aldi
- InterContinental Hotels
- Sodexo
- Kraft Heinz
- Compass Group
- Shake Shack
- Famous Brands
- Costa Coffee
- Barilla
- Cinnabon
- Auntie Anne’s
- Jamba
- Carvel
- McAlister’s Deli
- Moe’s Southwest Grill
- Schlotzsky’s
- Brioche Dorée
Eliminating cage systems is just the first step in ending animal abuse, but it’s also a significant shift for the better—and can mark a major improvement for the wellbeing of hens on factory farms.
How can I help?
A cage-free future is coming. This momentous win marks a meaningful shift to end the abuse of animals raised for food—and together, we’re making a difference.
But some corporations (like Panda Express, Five Guys, and Outback Steakhouse) are not responding to our call to act. Help change the world for egg-laying hens, broiler chickens, cows, pigs, and more by joining thousands of activists around the world to prompt these corporations to change their policies today and stop profiting off of animal abuse.
