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McDonald's uses over 4% of the eggs produced in the US each year and expects that to rise with all-day breakfast starting October 6. In this growth, they also intend to move toward cage-free eggs. While cage-free eggs will cost more, they believe their competitive buying power will push the price of all cage-free eggs lower in time as the industry moves toward them. It will take several years to reach 100% cage-free production since currently less than 10% of hens in the US are kept cage-free.

While cage-free carries a premium, the higher pricing is distorted by exceptionally high markups that retailers impose on customers interested in cage-free.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/business/mcdonalds-to-use-eggs-from-only-cage-free-hens.html?_r=0

In a move that has significant implications for American and Canadian egg producers, the McDonald’s Corporation is announcing that it will begin phasing out the use of eggs from hens housed in cages.

The company uses some two billion shell and liquid eggs annually, or a little more than 4 percent of the 43.56 billion eggs produced in the United States last year. With the national announcement last week of plans to sell some breakfast items all day long, the company expects to buy even more eggs. For example, the Egg McMuffin, which uses one egg per sandwich, is among the company’s most popular menu items.

With less than 10 percent of the nation’s laying hens housed as “cage free,” it could take McDonald’s as long as 10 years to reach its goal of having 100 percent come from hens in what are known as “aviary systems.” Those allow chickens to move freely up and down tiers and among nesting areas inside barns.

 

[Sanjuro]

Does removing the cage bring us one step closer to all day McGriddles?

 

[Syriel]

The Egg McMuffin shall improve the lives of chickens across America.

It is a godly sandwich.

 

[Regiruler]

A note that this does not mean "free range", but rather aren't kept in a singular cage and share a more open space inside the complex.

And the mcmuffins are overrated, I only get them because its b1g1f for Sausage McMuffins with egg.

 

[Rentahamster]

But Nic Cage tastes great with eggs.

 

[Resilient]

A note that this does not mean "free range", but rather aren't kept in a singular cage and share a more open space inside the complex.

OK. which is still better than being in cage.

and forcing the prices down is a good thing.

this is all around a good thing.

what is happening

 

[umop_3pisdn]

why would you have to cage eggs.

this is still good news.

 

[Crud]

Still garbage. Nothing will save them.

 

[Mimosa97]

Eat McDonald's. Free the Chicken.

 

[AntoneM]

It's a little better.

I really should raise my own chickens/eggs, but, that killing part.

 

[DECK'ARD]

Didn't realise the US was so behind in this.

All the eggs they use in the UK are free-range.

 

[Rebel Leader]

Didn't realise the US was so behind in this.

All the eggs they use in the UK are free-range.

"cage Free" is mostly a gimmick here

 

[SegaShack]

Now also stop using factory farms if cruelty is your actual concern.

 

[triplestation]

pen eggs are better anyway AHWHAWHWHWHAHWAHAHAWHHHAW

 

[Regiruler]

OK. which is still better than being in cage.

and forcing the prices down is a good thing.

this is all around a good thing.

what is happening

I didn't say it was a bad thing. I was making a note of a terminology technicality that might not be known to every user on the board interested in this topic.

Coincidentally, I only know this because there was a backyard chicken keeping seminar on my campus about 5 hours ago, and they actually brought up the difference.

 

[EmiPrime]

The conditions are still hellish for the hens so this is meaningless from a suffering standpoint.

If McDonalds are doing this it's because they've worked out that it will make them more money, not out of any kindness.

 

[DOWN]

Now also stop using factory farms if cruelty is your actual concern.

They'd have to kill a couple hundred thousand jobs to get small enough for that.

 

[HeisenbergLannister]

The conditions are still hellish for the hens so this is meaningless from a suffering standpoint.

If McDonalds are doing this it's because they've worked out that it will make them more money, not out of any kindness.

Kinda what I thought.

Raise the prices of breakfast sandwiches + can appear better in the public's eyes = profit

 

[FyreWulff]

It's a little better.

I really should raise my own chickens/eggs, but, that killing part.

We have chickens in the back yard. Egg hens. Pretty easy to take care of.

 

[Frozenprince]

Does removing the cage bring us one step closer to all day McGriddles?

This is my only question.

 

[way more]

What a gross, naked attempt of pandering under the guise of corporate responsibility. They are still not going to be as tasty as the local eggs I buy and use.

 

[AntoneM]

We have chickens in the back yard. Egg hens. Pretty easy to take care of.

That's awesome

 

[perfectchaos007]

cage < cage-free < Free Range?

As far as fat content is concerned, how they are raised doesn't make a difference right?

 

[DaveH]

Didn't realise the US was so behind in this.

All the eggs they use in the UK are free-range.

It's relatively new for you guys too, but in large part due to campaigns by Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Gordon Ramsey, etc.

It's really astonishing how much they changed UK food culture and law in under a generation.

 

[AbsolutBro]

We have chickens in the back yard. Egg hens. Pretty easy to take care of.

There are two different fox warrens on my farm and my dog is a rescue fowl-killer. I can't responsibly own chickens

Which is probably for the best, because after raising lambs I don't eat lamb anymore. Staying away from pigs and cows for the same reason.

 

[Mr_Antimatter]

I miss my parents free range eggs, they were a delicious golden color.

Sadly, neighbors dogs killed them one after another until they were no more.

Parents did buy some more chicks to replace them. And a box of rifle rounds for those damn dogs.

 

[Jpop]

I miss my parents free range eggs, they were a delicious golden color.

Sadly, neighbors dogs killed them one after another until they were no more.

Parents did buy some more chicks to replace them. And a box of rifle rounds for those damn dogs.

Ugh....

 

[WoodWERD]

What a gross, naked attempt to pander to corporate responsibility. They are still not going to be as tasty as the local eggs I buy and use.

You don't own your own brood of chickens? You monster!

 

[a secret-boss]

I always thought they use fake eggs
Like those egg substitute

 

[way more]

I always thought they use fake eggs
Like those egg substitute

They make egg substitutes that look like this?

 

[xbhaskarx]

I wonder how much of this is related to California passing Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, in 2008...

Having been passed by the voters on November 4, 2008, the key portion of the statute became operative on January 1, 2015. Farming operations had until that date to implement the new space requirements for their animals, and the statute now prohibits animals in California from being confined in a proscribed manner.

Few veal and pig factory farm operations exist in California, so Proposition 2 mostly affects farmers who raise California's 15 million egg-laying hens.

...

Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.

 

[AbsolutBro]

they were a delicious golden color.

Er... not sure if you mean the inside or the outside, but neither of those is subject to free range. Shell color is a breed thing, and insides are a diet thing.

I wonder how much of this is related to California passing Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, in 2008...

Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.

So... basically a bigger cage then?

 

[ElRenoRaven]

Good for them. It's always good to see companies and people treating animals with respect. These animals are dying so that we can live. They should be treated humanely the entire way from birth to their deaths. Never been a fan of keeping them in cages, abusing them, injecting them with tons of antibiotics to fatten them up, etc.

 

[Stallion Dan]

We have chickens in the back yard. Egg hens. Pretty easy to take care of.

We used to have some, then developed a fox problem and since we didn't want to lock them up we gave them away.

My initial concern was our cats, but the chickens quickly taught them they weren't like the birds and mice they capture. Cats quickly gave up that fight.

 

[FyreWulff]

There are two different fox warrens on my farm and my dog is a rescue fowl-killer. I can't responsibly own chickens

Which is probably for the best, because after raising lambs I don't eat lamb anymore. Staying away from pigs and cows for the same reason.

We have a giant pen. Sides and ceiling are metal fencing. Yeah, predators can end backyard chicken projects pretty fast.

When it was first built, a hawk divebombed the pen in the first couple of weeks. We haven't seen any try since then :V

 

[AbsolutBro]

We have a giant pen. Sides and ceiling are metal fencing. Yeah, predators can end backyard chicken projects pretty fast.

When it was first built, a hawk divebombed the pen in the first couple of weeks. We haven't seen any try since then :V

My neighbor has a huge shed divided into big rooms for the birds. Generally leaves the pens open so the birds can come and go as they please. Pretty shocking the first time I looked up and realized a flock of turkeys were in the trees looking down on me.

He's lost his several birds to the foxes though.

 

[Rich!]

I always thought they use fake eggs
Like those egg substitute

no, they actually use real fried eggs.

 

[Jaladinozozo]

Cage free is a joke and a gimmick.

I guess moderate torture for the life of the chicken is better than extreme torture, but the difference in space a chicken gets between caged or cage free is less than 1 square foot.

I buy pasture raised eggs only. Well worth the price (not like its a major difference if you breakdown price per egg - you still get a full breakfast for less than 2 dollars) and you can see/taste the difference plus you're supporting better farms than the animal concentration camps of the US.

 

[Hellwarden]

It's a nice step in the right direction I suppose.

Would like to see more done obviously.

 

[Jaladinozozo]

BTW so you can see the difference

 

[n0razi]

They make egg substitutes that look like this?

i was thinking more of this

 

[way more]

BTW so you can see the difference

That guy looks lonely. They should at least give him a buddy with all that empty space.

 

[Crimson Streak]

The scrambled eggs are made from liquid egg solution poured from a carton. (same with egg whites.)
The round eggs are made from cracking and cooking real eggs.
The folded eggs are shipped frozen and just heated.

Source: I used to work in MD.

 

[Moofers]

McDonalds is fuckin gross. If they want to make a real legitimate change they should go pasture raised and while they are at it, clean up their entire operation. Cows are slaughtered in sloppy fashion and sometimes butchered while they are still alive, and baby chicks are sent down literal chutes where they meet their doom. It's gross. I can't eat there without feeling like I'm ingesting meat that is infected with sadness. I don't need to be putting that bad mojo in my body.

Everyone should check out the documentary "McLibel" sometime.

 

[Ayt]

Didn't realise the US was so behind in this.

All the eggs they use in the UK are free-range.

The factory farms in the US are an abomination.