WASHINGTON, March 30, 2015 – Dunkin’ Donuts announced today that 10 percent of all eggs sourced for its breakfast sandwiches in the U.S. will be from cage-free hens by the end of next year. Additionally, Dunkin’ Donuts said it will source only gestation crate-free pork in the U.S. by 2022.

The Canton, Massachusetts-based company, with more than 11,300 restaurants in 36 countries, is considering moving to 100 percent cage-free eggs globally, and said it will map its international supply chain to understand the feasibility of doing so.

The announcement was made in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The new policy “is further testament that consumers and companies are aligned in shifting the egg and pork industries away from confining animals in cages,” Josh Balk, senior food policy director of HSUS, said in a press release.

[Keep up with ag and rural policy news as it happens. Sign up for a four-week FREE trial of Agri-Pulse.] 

Christine Riley Miller, senior director of corporate social responsibility for Dunkin’ Brands, said the company accomplished its goal to source 5 percent cage-free eggs by 2013.

“Now, working with our suppliers and the Humane Society of the United States, we are setting new commitments to help the egg and pork industries eliminate cages to demonstrate our responsibility to animal welfare and sustainable, ethical sourcing,” she said.

Related Articles

Dunkin’ Brands’ full commitment to animal welfare will be included in the company’s 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility report, which will be released by end of spring, the company said. The current corporate social responsibility report is available here.

HSUS reported today that Mondelez, one of the world’s largest snack food companies and the maker of Cadbury Crème Egg and Chips Ahoy!, is transitioning more of its eggs to cage-free operations. “We want all eggs ultimately to be produced without cages,” the company said.

Additionally, TrustHouse Services Group, a food service company that runs the dining operations at more than 675 accounts across the country including colleges and universities, announced last week that it is switching all of its 10 million liquid eggs to cage-free.

#30

For more news, go to www.agri-pulse.com