World’s Largest Investigation into Industrialized Egg Farms Exposes Filthy Caged Conditions in over 35 Countries, Amid Global Bird Flu Crisis
Julia Tomkins Wisner
Never-Before-Seen Footage from the Open Wing Alliance—Narrated by Nikki Glaser—Reveals Systemic Abuse and Public Health Risks in Corporate Egg Facilities Around the World
The Open Wing Alliance, a global coalition of nearly 100 organizations established by The Humane League, in collaboration with We Animals and Reporters for Animals International, today releases the results of the largest-ever investigation into industrialized egg farms in over 35 countries. This widespread, never-before-seen footage—narrated by comedian and 2025/26 Golden Globe host Nikki Glaser and backed by 100 celebrities—exposes widespread abuse of egg-laying hens trapped in filthy, overcrowded cages, with evidence of injured birds, rotting carcasses, disease-ridden conditions, and more. This investigation comes as bird flu sweeps across every continent, jumping from farmed birds to wild animals and even humans.
The vast majority of food corporations around the world publicly committed, a decade ago, to remove cages from their egg supply chains, with global companies like The Hershey Company, Hormel Foods, Famous Brands, and Barilla already fully cage-free. Food companies like Walmart, Zensho Holdings, Aeon, and Inspire Brands (parent company of Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins) continue to profit from sourcing eggs from hens raised in outdated cages. This investigation heavily features markets where these four industry leaders procure caged eggs.
“From North America to Asia, Europe to Africa, South America to Australia, no country, no company using cages is safe from what we found,” says Nikki Glaser, comedian and 2025/26 Golden Globe host in the short film narration. “It turns out, the price tag is the least shocking thing about eggs. What investigators documented across more than 35 countries will make you question everything.”
“This isn’t just an animal welfare scandal—it’s a ticking time bomb for public health and corporate risk. Cramming sick, stressed hens into filthy cages is the perfect breeding ground for disease, yet companies like Walmart and Inspire Brands are still clinging to this reckless model,” said Ellie Ponders, Senior Director of Global Corporate Engagement, The Open Wing Alliance. “And this isn’t an isolated issue—it’s a global crisis. With footage exposed in more than 35 countries, this investigation lays bare the truth: systemic suffering, global inaction, and a betrayal of public trust. Investors, regulators, and consumers should be asking the same question: how much longer will these corporations gamble with our health and trust?”
Key findings include: ● 7-10 hens confined per cage, each bird with less space than an iPad (67 square inches); ● Automated systems leave dead bird carcasses trapped in cages with living hens; ● Live hens abandoned in manure pits, and eggs found in manure before sent to shelves; ● Birds unable to stand upright or spread their wings; ● Unsanitary conditions that promote disease spread, like avian influenza.
Footage from 37 countries, including: ● Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
Consumers around the world are increasingly demanding transparency and ethical treatment of animals in food production—and they won’t stand for further risks to our global public health. Over 100 celebrity figures, including Nikki Glaser, Mayim Bialik, Harley Quinn Smith, Alexandra Paul,Blake Moynes, Erika Eleniak, Tara Strong, Joanna Krupa, Daniel Newman, Marcus Daniell, Daniela Sarfati, Rain Phoenix, Alison Eastwood, among others, signed an open letter urging food corporations to end the use of cages in their global supply chains. This investigation sends a powerful message: the real cost of eggs is paid for in animal and human health—and it’s time for corporations to put an end to cruel and risky caged confinement.
For more information, to view the full investigation, or take action, please visit RealCostofEggs.com. Explore the press kit, including the celebrity open letter, a video interview with an undercover investigator, and raw video footage, including photos, by country.
