BOGOTÁ—Juan Valdez, with approximately 300 locations in Colombia, announced a new policy to improve animal welfare in its supply chain, committing to sourcing only cage-free eggs. The company worked with Humane Society International, a leading global animal protection organization, on the adoption of this policy. The company will conclude the transition to 100 percent cage-free eggs (including processed eggs and products that contain eggs) no later than 2025.
Juan Valdez’s new animal welfare policy states: “Juan Valdez, concerned with the environment, animal welfare, and as part of its sustainability strategy, announces its commitment to use eggs from 100% cage-free hens, for the manufacturing of all its bakery and pastries that it sells in its stores throughout the country…At Juan Valdez we are committed to sustainability and animal welfare, which is why we’ve committed to switching our entire egg supply chain to 100 percent cage-free throughout our operations in Colombia by 2025.”
Elissa Lane, director of HSI Farm Animals Welfare, stated: “We applaud Juan Valdez for joining hundreds of food companies in Colombia and around the globe in pledging to source only cage-free eggs, and we invite other companies to do the same. Through commitments like these, consumers and the food industry in the country are sending a clear message, that immobilizing egg-laying hens in cages is unacceptable and the days of how animals are treated in the food industry going unquestioned are long gone. The future of egg production is cage-free, and we look forward to continuing to work with Juan Valdez on the implementation of this policy.”
In Colombia, the majority of egg-laying hens are confined in wire cages so small they can barely move or stretch their wings. In contrast, hens raised in cage-free environments are able to walk, lay their eggs in nests, forage, perch and carry out other natural behaviors. More than 30 companies have joined this cage-free egg movement in Colombia, including Colombina, OMA, Crepes & Waffles, Pan Pa’ Ya, Hoteles Estelar, IMC Colombia (J&C Delicias and R.A. Catering), McDonald’s, Grupo Bimbo, Burger King, Alsea (Archie’s and Domino’s), Nestlé, Compass Group and Sodexo.
