Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets Inc. has committed to selling eggs exclusively from cage- free chickens in its chain of natural and organic food stores.
An official from the Humane Society of the United States, which had been negotiating the agreement with the grocer since February, commended the move.
“We view this as a tremendous step forward for farm animal rights,” said Paul Shapiro, manager of the Humane Society’s factory farming campaign.
The policy takes effect today. It applies both to eggs sold on store shelves and those used in the ready-to-eat food prepared in the store commissaries.
The company has spent the past few months reviewing its supplier practices to ensure hens are not caged, said Wild Oats spokeswoman Sonja Tuitele. Suppliers must periodically sign affidavits confirming that their eggs do not come from caged chickens. Company representatives sometimes visit suppliers as well.
While some U.S. companies, such as McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s, have asked their egg suppliers to increase cage space, Wild Oats is the first national chain to formally implement a cage-free corporate policy for eggs, according to the Humane Society.
Wild Oats sold 1.6 million cartons of eggs in 2004.
Producing eggs in a cage-free environment generally costs about 20 percent more than traditional production methods, according to Shapiro. Retail price differences can vary. There is no health benefit in cage-free eggs, although some people believe the eggs are higher quality, he said.
“We are hopeful that our decision not to approve egg farmers who use caged birds for our national and regional product lists will encourage the egg industry to move in the direction of phasing out its use of battery cages, and shifting toward cage-free methods that take the animals’ welfare into account,” Wild Oats chief executive Perry Odak said in a statement.
A Whole Foods spokeswoman said the Austin, Texas-based grocer also has a cage-free policy.
Shapiro said the Humane Society does not yet recognize Whole Foods’ policy as a formal program.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
