Taco Bell announced on Monday that by the end of 2016, 100 percent of its egg supply will be cage-free. If done by next year, it will be the sole major fast food chain that acquires its eggs in this manner. Panera, McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts have made a similar promise on their egg supply policies, as well.
"Implementing this change at record pace underscores that we are always listening and responding to our customers, while doing what is right for our business," Taco Bell CEO Brian Niccol said, according to Fox News.
The change will bring an "appeal to customers' tastes" but initially, it is the company's response to the animal welfare concerns of their customers, Niccol added.
Yum, the food group company which owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, has been criticized regarding the slow pace of the implementation of their policies aimed at the limited use of meat harvested from animals that were treated with antibiotics, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Liz Matthews, a Taco Bell executive, mentioned how this move was valued by customers. "Ingredient transparency is more important than ever to the next generation of Taco Bell customers," Matthews said, according to CNN Money.
If fulfilled, the cage-free eggs will be used for most breakfast meals such as the Crunchwrap, breakfast burritos, and breakfast tacos.
The change was praised by Rachel Dreskin, the Food Business Manager at Compassion in World Farming. "We commend Taco Bell for going completely cage-free in a little over a year. This is the first significant announcement they have made regarding animal welfare in the U.S. Taco Bell caters to a diverse customer base, and this announcement demonstrates that treating animals with respect is a value that is shared across the entire population," Dreskin said, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Josh Balk, senior director of the Humane Society, also praised Taco Bell's decision.
"Switching to 100 percent cage-free eggs by the end of 2016 is a tremendous commitment that will quickly improve the lives of countless animals and further cement the future of egg production as being one without cages," Balk said, according to The Orange County Register.
