Anna Peer
Because of you, Subway felt the pressure cooking—340,000 lives will never be the same.
Subway isn’t just a sandwich shop—it’s the largest restaurant chain in North America, with more than 22,000 locations and a huge influence over industry norms. When it comes to compassion, it finally cracked.
For years, Subway dodged the conversation. While brands like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Taco Bell followed through on their cage-free promises, Subway kept its customers guessing—and hens in cages. But you turned up the heat.
Thanks to persistent pressure from advocates and everyday consumers, Subway couldn’t ignore the growing call for change.
And now? The biggest chain on the map just changed course—because of you.
Operation: Subway meltdown
Subway didn’t lead on this issue—it followed the growing public demand for better treatment of animals. As other major chains made the switch, the pressure mounted.
Our 2025 Eggsposé report called out Subway’s lack of transparency and slow progress. Animal lovers kept the spotlight on, making it clear: cage-free isn’t a trend. It’s the baseline.
Eventually, Subway responded—not because it wanted to be first, but because it didn’t want to be left behind.
What’s on the menu now? Compassion
In a long-overdue update, the fast food chain announced:
“All Subway restaurants in the U.S. are set to source 100% cage-free eggs by November 1, 2025. In Canada, 75% of Subway restaurants proudly serve cage-free eggs, with full transition expected by year-end.”
This shift will spare 340,000 hens from lives in cramped cages—where they’re denied even the most basic natural behaviors like walking or spreading their wings.
It’s a meaningful step forward—especially in Canada, where roughly 83% of hens remain confined in cages. And it sends a clear message to the industry: companies that delay are out of step with public values and will be held accountable.
This win doesn’t belong to Subway. It belongs to you—and to the animals we’re fighting for.
One year. One chain. One big win.
This victory didn’t happen overnight. This win was the result of relentless public pressure—from thousands who believe animals deserve better, including you. Supporters showed up, spoke out, and made it impossible to ignore.
The largest fast food chain in North America didn’t act out of generosity. It acted because thousands of people—customers and advocates—refused to let cruelty go unanswered.
This win is proof: when we come together, we can move giants.
Let’s keep the heat on
This victory is real—and massive—but it’s not the finish line.
Cage-free isn’t the end goal. But it is a critical step. Because when companies stop treating animals like egg-producing machines and start phasing out cages, we move closer to a food system rooted in dignity, not cruelty.
Subway’s shift sends a message to every other company still clinging to outdated, inhumane practices: your customers are paying attention—and they expect better.
You helped set the table. Now let’s keep the momentum going.
Craving more victories?
You moved the world’s largest restaurant chain. Ready to do it again? It’s one step closer to the world we’re fighting for—where no animal is treated like a product.
Join our Fast Action Network to stay in the loop and be the first to act when animals need your voice.
