Target Corporation is facing increasing pressure from animal rights activists to establish a new timeline for its commitment to selling only cage-free eggs. The retailer had originally pledged to meet this goal by 2025, but acknowledged last year that it would not fulfill this promise. Activists delivered nearly 200,000 signatures to Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis on Tuesday, calling for the company to catch up with competitors like Costco and Amazon in transitioning to cage-free egg sourcing.
Kent Stein, a corporate policy specialist at Humane World for Animals, criticized Target’s delays, stating, “McDonald’s found a way to meet this goal early. There’s no excuse for Target to be trailing behind.” The organization, previously known as the Humane Society of the United States, is also urging Target to honor an earlier commitment to source pork from farms that do not use confining gestation crates for sows.
Last year, Target attributed its inability to meet the cage-free goal to a significant bird flu outbreak that devastated flocks supplying its Good & Gather brand of eggs. The company also cited consumer resistance to higher prices as a barrier. Similarly, Walmart provided a comparable explanation for missing its own cage-free pledge.
In response to the mounting criticism, Target stated on its website, “We continue to actively collaborate with our suppliers and prioritize ethical sourcing practices to achieve this goal.” The company did not provide further comments following the delivery of the signatures.
Cage-free egg production has seen a significant increase, with nearly half of all egg-laying hens in the United States now raised in cage-free environments. This shift is largely attributed to state laws banning the sale of caged eggs, alongside companies’ voluntary commitments to meet consumer demand for more humane practices. Notably, some states restrict the use of federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) funds for purchasing cage-free eggs.
The recent challenges in the egg market have been exacerbated by record prices, which are influenced by the mortality of tens of millions of egg-laying hens due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak. Research from the University of Arkansas indicates that this situation has cost consumers an additional $1.4 billion over the past year. Despite these challenges, egg producers have reported record profits during this period. As of last week, conventional eggs were averaging $2.67 per dozen, while cage-free eggs were priced approximately one dollar higher, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Target’s commitment to improve its sourcing practices is not limited to eggs. The company has also made strides regarding its 2012 crate-free pork pledge. In 2022, Target announced the launch of a system to raise all Good & Gather fresh pork in open pen environments, representing the majority of its pork sales. The company expects all suppliers to eventually eliminate the use of gestation crates for sows.
As activists intensify their calls for accountability, the spotlight remains on Target and its ability to align its practices with evolving consumer expectations and animal welfare standards.
