Document type : article published in Savoir Animal
Author: Savoir Animal based on Mercy for Animals findings
Preview: The third International Cage-Free Equity Index of companies published by Mercy for Animals singles out Sodexo and Carrefour in France for lack of equity in their commitment to cage-free eggs.
As part of a coalition of 16 animal protection organizations operating across 22 countries, Mercy For Animals has released the third edition of the International Cage-Free Equity Index. The index categorizes 40 restaurant chains, food manufacturers and retailers according to the equity or inequity of their cage-free egg commitments, as well as transparency about progress towards their animal welfare goals. . [...]Among the 40 brands ranked in this index, France is well represented (as is the United States). Carrefour and Groupe Casino figure in the lowest-performing group of French companies, having committed to sourcing cage-free eggs only for their European operations, and remaining silent on their operations in the Global South.
Sodexo, a foodservices giant operating in nearly 53 countries, is also lagging behind its commitments. Although the company has committed to sourcing cage-free eggs worldwide, it has yet to report progress in all its regions of operation (notably Asia, Africa and Latin America). By contrast, other companies in the same sector, such as Compass Group and Aramark, are already reporting progress in all regions. Similarly, French airline caterer Newrest is ranked highly for its transparency on progress in all regions of operation. [...] Agri-food companies should report their progress towards ending use of cages in their egg supply chains world-wide just as they do for their other CSR commitments. Reporting publicly on progress is a way of demonstrating that a brand is worthy of confiance and integrity. Mercy For Animals seeks to speak for responsible consumers who welcomed the commitments of agri-food companies when they were made several years ago. The implementation of these commitments is paramount in ensuring that animal suffering is effectively reduced and in contributing to the evolution of our food systems.
More than 2,400 companies have already committed to sourcing 100% cage-free eggs with a clear deadline, and over 150 commitments have been made concerning companies' global supply chains.
Link to the report in French
