Toronto Schools Choose Cage Free Eggs
Jan 25, 2011
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) applauds York University and Humber College for starting 2011 compassionately by Choosing Cage-free. Both schools have recently committed to switch to using shell eggs from cage-free hens in all food services they operate.
“We are proud to be part of a community that supports the humane treatment of animals and happy to work with our student population to ‘walk the talk’,” said Terry Kyritsis, Director of Campus Services at Humber College.
Added WSPA’s Melissa Matlow: “We applaud these schools for listening to their students and supporting animal welfare. They recognize that eggs don’t have to be produced through the cruel treatment of hens.” The two schools join more than 350 other universities and colleges in Canada and the US which have made similar commitments.
The animal welfare charity visited both schools last fall with a display that asked students to consider the way the hens supplying their eggs are raised. In Canada, the vast majority of the six billion eggs produced every year come from caged hens. Typically, five to seven hens are crammed into small, wire “battery” cages, giving each hen a space smaller than a sheet of notebook paper on which to live. The hens have no room to turn around or even stretch their wings, causing severe stress and frustration as well as physical injuries.
WSPA’s display includes an actual battery cage, just like those found in the vast majority of Canadian egg-laying operations, along with seven chicken replicas. Designed to show what life in a battery cage is like, the cage surprised many students who said they had no idea how small the cages were." York's commitment to serve cage-free eggs is an important step towards the better treatment of animals," said Roman Yufa, a student at York University and President of Students for Protection of Animals.
Said Humber grad student, Margaux Smith: “I don’t mind spending a little bit extra knowing that the hens are happier and healthier. I think the majority of students agree that they don't deserve to suffer.”
Humber is the first college in Ontario to make the switch to cage-free eggs and York is the eighth university. As a result of these decisions, an estimated 150,000-200,000 eggs annually. will now come from hens that have the freedom to move, nest and stretch their wings.
The welfare of farm animals is an issue of significant concern to Canadians. According to a recent poll conducted for WSPA by HarrisDecima. In the past year, almost half (45%) of all Canadians have at least occasionally purchased free run, free range, cage-free, SPCA certified or certified organic eggs (26% have done so often and 20% occasionally).
Almost three quarters (72%) of Canadians would be willing to pay a little more (about 20 cents) per egg, if their personal choice to purchase cage‐free eggs would lead to the more humane treatment of farm animals. A total of 1,007 Canadians were surveyed via telephone for this study between October 26th and November 7th, 2010. The associated margin of error is +/-3.1%, 19 times out of 20.
WSPA hopes the York and Humber decisions will inspire more consumers to Choose Cage Free. To find out more about WSPA’s campaign, visit www.choosecagefree.ca.
If you are a York University student or staff member, please send a letter to thank York for supporting farm animal welfare and ask the Executive Director of the Student Centre to Choose Cage Free too.
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