Noble Foods to end colony egg farming

In a short statement, the company announced it would move to cage free-production after “months” of planning. It is understood that Noble Foods keeps some 4.3 million birds in enriched colony systems.

Sustained campaigning by activists

The company has been subject to sustained campaigning to end its involvement in colony egg production for some time, including an occupation of its London headquarters by activists and undercover filming on its farms.

A latest example of covert filming, at a Dorset farm housing half a million laying hens, saw 2 sheds having their British Lion accreditation suspended. The footage purported to show no stock inspections in a part of the farm for 4 days.

75,000 people signed petition

In addition, more than 75,000 people have signed a petition calling for the company to end its involvement in colony egg production.

Activists such as those at charity the Humane League have sought to highlight that Noble Foods’ flagship brand, the Happy Egg co, has marketing that focuses on high-welfare and affording birds access to the outdoors. It considers this a stark contrast to birds in its caged systems.

Move from colony farming to battery cages

Colony egg units formally replaced conventional battery cages in 2012 as a higher welfare alternative. Where battery cages confined 6 hens together, colony farms group up to 80 birds in larger cages that provide enrichments such as nest boxes and scratch areas.

But in 2016 campaigners succeeded in convincing British supermarkets to move to cage-free eggs.

While most retailers agreed to stop selling colony eggs by 2025, there was less momentum in the food service and egg products sector because of their significantly lower cost of production when compared with free-range egg farming.