Scarletta and Sloane’s Artisan completes full transition to sourcing cage-free eggs in 2024
Humane Society International / Southeast Asia
HSI
BANGKOK—Humane Society International in Thailand is celebrating the notable recent achievement of Scarletta and Sloane’s Artisan, a restaurant group and pasta manufacturer, which announced a commitment to exclusively use cage-free egg and egg products as of October 2024. The commitment came about when the group conducted a review on how to improve animal welfare in its supply chain, and Humane Society International facilitated connections to cage-free egg producers. Scarletta and Sloane’s Artisan has already implemented cage-free eggs for use at its restaurants (Scarletta Pasta Bar and Salad Smith) and in the products it sells to other restaurants and retailers. HSI supported the company’s transition by recommending producers that meet the science-based animal welfare requirements that allow birds to express their important natural behaviors such as nesting and perching.
The majority of the 95.8 million hens used for egg production in Thailand spend their lives in wire cages with each hen provided no more space than the size of an A4 sheet of paper. The cage is so small that hens cannot spread their wings or take more than a few steps. In such production systems, hens are unable to express important natural behavior, including nesting, perching and dustbathing, all of which are possible in cage-free systems. Hens are sentient, intelligent and sociable animals. Scientific studies have shown that they empathize with their chicks, enjoy social activities such as dustbathing, and can anticipate the future, which in turn affects their decision making.
Scarletta and Sloane’s Artisan isn’t planning to stop at cage-free eggs; the company is looking into other animal welfare and sustainability improvements for its supply chain. The company understands the importance of its transition to cage-free eggs and hopes it will create a ripple effect in Thai society.
“We are passionate about quality food, sustainability impacts, and animal welfare. We started using cage-free eggs in 2020 for some of our products and will be completing our transition to 100% cage-free eggs in the last quarter of 2024. We will continue to use only cage-free eggs going forward for all brands. All our quality-driven products are made by hand in our own production facility by passionate individuals,” said Joe Sloane, founder and managing director of Scarletta and Sloane’s Artisan.
Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand program manager of farm animal welfare and protection at Humane Society International said, “Joe Sloane and his team at Scarletta and Sloane’s Artisan are passionate about animal welfare and quickly chose to stop using any eggs from hens confined to cages. We applaud this strong cage-free commitment and are available to support companies looking to improve animal welfare.”
ENDS
Media contact: Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand program manager for farm animal welfare and protection at Humane Society International, ltangjerdjaras@hsi.org
Zen Corporation Group becomes the largest Thai restaurant group in the country to embrace higher welfare standards for hens
Humane Society International / Southeast Asia
David Paul Morris
BANGKOK—Humane Society International in Thailand celebrates Zen Corporation Group for its commitment to use eggs from cage-free hens by 2028. With 11 restaurant brands and more than 240 outlets, Zen Corporation Group has become Thailand’s largest restaurant group to join the global cage-free movement. In 2024, the group already reached the 80% mark of its egg supply coming from cage-free hens, demonstrating its commitment to improving the lives of thousands of hens. By the 2028 deadline, all eggs used across Zen Corporation Group’s restaurants will come from hens kept in cage-free systems where they can engage in natural behaviors like perching and nesting.
This commitment is the result of close collaboration with Humane Society International, which began in 2023. HSI worked with Zen Corporation Group by providing expert guidance, facilitating key connections with local suppliers, organizing cage-free farm site visits, providing team training on the benefits of cage-free systems, and many other full supports on any related aspects of cage-free eggs policy.
In Thailand, where most of the country’s 95.8 million egg-laying hens are confined to tiny wire cages, Zen Corporation Group’s decision signals a major shift in the industry. By adopting a cage-free procurement policy, Zen Corporation Group is taking a critical step to reduce suffering and drive a change in the market. In a cage-free environment, hens can move more freely, perch, nest, and dustbathe, leading to significantly improved welfare and better lives.
“The group has been driven by strong passion of professional and expertise to develop creative menu and unique dining experience with love not only to the customers but every life related to us. Responsible consumption in our supply chain involving animal welfare is an essential element for our corporate social responsibility goals and sustainable development. Thus, cage-free eggs are one of the main programs we would like to move forward to successful implementation soon. This action is one of our goals to support local producers for sustainable business”, said Miss. Jomkwan Chirathivat, General Manager, Sustainable Development of Zen Corporation Group.
“Zen Corporation Group’s leadership will have a lasting impact on both the welfare of animals and the expectations of consumers in Thailand. As one of the largest Thai companies to adopt a cage-free policy, the team has dedicated time, shown the will and worked diligently to begin implementing these higher welfare standards. Thanks to their hard work, countless hens will have the space to spread their wings and a better life”, said Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager, Farm Animal Welfare and Protection for Humane Society International.
Zen Corporation Group’s commitment is part of a national and global trend moving away from keeping hens in cages in egg production. It joins nearly 80 other national and multinational companies in Thailand such as AccorHotels, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Sodexo, Nestlé and Mondelēz International that are all committed to only supplying cage-free eggs. As consumer demand for more ethical and sustainable food options increases, companies like Zen Corporation Group are leading the charge for positive change.
ENDS
Media contact: Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand program manager for farm animal welfare and protection at Humane Society International, ltangjerdjaras@hsi.org
Akiyoshi, Rena Bakery, Rotruedee, and Tap Home Cook make the switch to cage-free eggs for a more humane future
Humane Society International / Southeast Asia
Tigrane Hogbossia
BANGKOK, Thailand—This World Egg Day, four beloved Thai restaurants are putting animal welfare first by celebrating World Hen Day instead. Akiyoshi, Rena Bakery, Rotruedee, and Tap Home Cook are proudly announcing their transition to using only cage-free eggs and ensuring that the hens who lay those eggs are treated with greater care and have room to move.
In collaboration with Humane Society International, these popular establishments are leading the way in Thailand’s shift toward more compassionate food choices. Japanese restaurant Akiyoshi, authentic Thai fusion western style Rena Bakery, renowned Thai restaurant Rotruedee and Tap Home Cook, famous for its home-style cooking, are all committing to a cage-free egg supply. This means hens will no longer be confined to cramped cages, and instead will have space to spread their wings, walk, and engage in natural behaviors like dustbathing and perching.
In Thailand, approximately 96.3 million hens are used for egg production, and the majority are confined in small wire cages so small that hens can’t spread their wings or take more than a few steps. In contrast, “World Hen Day is an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of animal welfare and make the point clearly that hens are individuals deserving of basic protections,” said Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager for Farm Animal Welfare and Protection at Humane Society International. “Thai consumers, like others around the world, care about animal welfare, and they support companies that share these values. We’re thrilled to work with companies that adopted cage-free policies and are advancing the movement toward cage-free egg production.
These four companies are responding to growing consumer demand for more ethical food choices. For them, the decision to go cage-free isn’t just about business—it’s about doing what’s right.
“Switching to using 100% cage-free eggs is an important decision for us because it fits with who we are and is what our customers want.” said a spokesperson for the Executive Management team at Akiyoshi.
Mr. Chatchai Komintr, CEO of Rena Bakery added: “After we learned more about how caged hens live, we decided that we needed to do something to help.”
These four businesses join over 50 companies in Thailand, including big names like Minor Foods and Marriott, that have pledged to use exclusively cage-free eggs. Other Thailand brands are also part of this growing shift toward more humane sourcing. Globally, more than 2,000 companies—including Burger King, Bimbo, and Accor—have committed to go cage-free.
The move to cage-free eggs reflects a broader shift toward ethical choices, as more Thai consumers seek out businesses that prioritize animal welfare, and make their preferences known. This is a step toward a brighter, more compassionate future for Thailand’s hens.
ENDS
Media contact: Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand program manager for farm animal welfare and protection at Humane Society International, ltangjerdjaras@hsi.org
With support from Humane Society International, Tap Home Cook commits to stop using eggs from caged hens by 2028
Humane Society International / Southeast Asia
danchooalex/iStock.com
BANGKOK, Thailand—Tap Home Cook, a popular café and restaurant group in Thailand, is taking a significant step toward improving animal welfare by committing to only use eggs from cage-free hens by 2028. The pledge was made with the support of the animal protection organisation Humane Society International which is working to improve the welfare of farmed animals in the country.
Tap Home Cook operates three well-known brands: Not Just Another Cup, Tiny Cup and Butter Cup. The company is dedicated to offering more sustainable options for customers while improving its social impact. By shifting to eggs from cage-free hens, Tap Home Cook joins a growing number of Thai businesses prioritizing animal welfare in their supply chains. This company has already begun the transition, with full implementation expected by 2028.
In Thailand, the majority of the 95.8 million hens used for egg production spend their lives in cramped wire cages, each with less space than the area of an A4 sheet of paper. These crowded cages prevent hens from expressing natural behavior such as spreading their wings, nesting, perching and dustbathing. Cage-free systems, on the other hand, offer the opportunity for hens to engage in these vital activities, greatly enhancing their quality of life. Research has shown that hens are sentient, intelligent and sociable animals.
“At Tap Home Cook, we are deeply committed to responsible sourcing,” said Chitraphan Charanachitta, Founder and CEO of Tap Home Cook. “Our transition to cage-free eggs aligns perfectly with our vision We are grateful to Humane Society International for their support in helping us make this important change, and we are excited to be part of the global movement toward more humane practices.
Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager, Farm Animal Welfare and Protection for Humane Society International, applauded Tap Home Cook’s leadership: “We are thrilled to see Tap Home Cook take this important step towards improving animal welfare. Their commitment will not only benefit the hens but will also inspire other companies in Thailand to follow suit. HSI in Thailand is ready to support any business looking to improve the welfare of animals in its supply chains.”
Tap Home Cook is joining a broader cage-free movement within Thailand and beyond, as more multinational and local companies make similar cage-free commitments. Global companies with operations in Thailand, such as Central Retail Group, AccorHotels, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Sodexo, Nestle and Mondelez International, have already started to make the switch to cage-free eggs Additionally, Thai brands like Baan Ying Family, Akiyoshi, Bite Me Softly, Kalpapruek, Rena Bakery, Rotruedee and Sukishi are part of this growing shift toward more humane sourcing.
ENDS
Media contact: Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand program manager for farm animal welfare and protection at Humane Society International, ltangjerdjaras@hsi.org
Humane Society International
David Paul Morris
When: Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 8 a.m.
Where: Jalan Putra, 50350, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
More information and registration coming soon!
Humane Society International / South Africa
Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals
CAPE TOWN, South Africa—The Animal Law Project (ALP) proudly announces the release of its groundbreaking manifesto, “A Manifesto for Transforming Animal Protection in South Africa: A Constitutional Imperative” for public discussion, engagement and consultations. The Animal Law Project is a collaborative project initiated by Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA), Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa), (as well as the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC), a centre of the University of Johannesburg) in 2022.
The Manifesto was developed after extensive consultations with the animal protection sector, other stakeholders including experts, veterinarians, academics, civil society organisations as well as discussions with government. It calls for an overhaul of the legal framework governing animals, most notably, reform of the outdated Animals Protection Act, which has remained largely unchanged for over 60 years, pre-dating South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, it is crucial to acknowledge that while strides have been made in pursuing social justice for humans, animals have largely been left behind. Despite expanding scientific consensus about non-human animal sentience (the ability to experience both positive and negative states of being), other extensive and complex animal capacities, and the weight of moral concern around animal suffering, it is arguably one of the worst times in history to be an animal. South Africa, known for its rich biodiversity, must now strive for social justice that includes all species.
In a landmark 2016 decision, the Constitutional Court of South Africa recognised animal welfare as a deep principle of the Constitution. The court acknowledged the sentience of animals and emphasized the intrinsic value of animals as individuals, shifting the focus from merely safeguarding human moral status to robust protection of animal welfare. Despite this recognition, there have been few changes to the administration of animal protection, leaving animals vulnerable to countless harmful and cruel practices.
Hundreds of millions of animals in various sectors endure ongoing and extreme suffering in South Africa:
Over 1.1 billion land animals are produced and killed for food annually, with chickens making up the majority at over 950 million. The consumption of other animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, aquatic animals and even insects are also on the rise. Farmed animals often endure extensive harm, including close confinement, mutilation, forced pregnancies, and unnatural diets. Practices such as long-distance sea transport and mass killings during crises have exacerbated the situation.
Wild animals are commodified as “faunal biological resources” under an interpretation of “sustainable use,” often resulting in their exploitation. Wildlife “farming”, often seen as a conservation success, prioritizes economic gains over true conservation. Harmful practices like canned hunting, poaching, and trophy hunting are prevalent, and both legal and illegal practices lead to the systemic killing of animals.
Aquatic animals and invertebrates are often not recognised as animals, with their deaths being measured in tonnage rather than individually, and their suffering ignored entirely.
Laboratory animals are subjected to inhumane testing, often for trivial or unnecessary purposes, such as the development of cosmetic products. The animal testing industry is characterised by inadequate regulation and oversight.
Companion animals continue to suffer from homelessness, malnutrition, illness and abuse, with free-roaming populations facing unmanaged breeding and mass killings in shelters.
Animals are also exploited in entertainment, tourism, and various economic activities, often suffering from neglect.
The previous Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD) has expressed the intention to draft a new Animal Welfare Bill. The ALP, initiated to address the gap that exist and to advocate for a just legal regime for animals in South Africa, by informing this legislative process with modern and constitutionally aligned animal protection proposals.
This newly released manifesto has drawn from stakeholder feedback from various sectors, including civil society organizations, human rights groups, the legal fraternity, environmental and conservation sectors, academics, veterinarians, and students.
The manifesto, available for public comment and feedback, consists of three parts:
Part I: Introducing the background, impetus, and scope of the ALP, summarizing the extensive consultations, and the manifesto’s purpose.
Part II: Providing a high-level problem statement, highlighting the deficiencies in current animal regulatory regime and institutions, reviewing international developments and introducing the concept of constitutional misalignment.
Part III: Presenting tangible proposals for transforming animal protection in South Africa, detailing foundational values, guiding principles, and enabling mechanisms. The three foundational values proposed are constitutional alignment, sentience, and intrinsic value. The ten guiding principles include animal flourishing, vulnerability, ubuntu, public interest, least harm and proportionality, justifiability, duty of care, non-arbitrariness, knowledge, and internationality. The enabling mechanisms draw on existing South African and foreign precedent and best practice as well as commonly accepted tenets of good governance.
The ALP calls on the public, policymakers, and all stakeholders to engage with the manifesto and contribute to shape a future where the protection of animals is understood and realised as a matter of social justice and a constitutional imperative in South Africa.
Along with the launch of the manifesto, the ALP hosted a thought-provoking photographic exhibition in Cape Town and Johannesburg, featuring the work of renowned photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur, alongside local artists from We Animals Media and South African activists. The exhibition, “Justice for Animals? The lived reality of animals in the 21st century” showcases the ongoing suffering of animals identified in the manifesto and aims to evoke a deeper understanding and empathy for the plight of animals.
Humane Society International/UK calls on the Government to conduct an urgent review of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s goals and spending priorities.
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
Stock Photography
LONDON— As the second round of a Government-backed multi-million pound ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign launches today, explicitly aimed at encouraging the public to eat more red meat and dairy, charity Humane Society International/UK says promoting climate-costly diets directly contradicts Labour’s manifesto health and nature goals and calls on farming Minister Daniel Zeichner to commission an urgent review. The campaign has been launched by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, a non-departmental public body, accountable to the UK Parliament through Defra Ministers, with board members appointed by the Secretary of State for Defra.
HSI/UK says a review is needed into the AHDB’s goals and spending priorities. HSI/UK’s analysis of Defra’s departmental spending figures shows that between January and June 2024, the AHDB spent over £2.5million on pro-meat propaganda, equating to at least 42% of AHDB total expenditure (£6.1million) (for line items over £25,000).
Animal agriculture accounts for an estimated 16.5% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, similar to the emissions from all global transportation. The Climate Change Committee says reducing meat and dairy consumption is essential to reach the UK’s legally binding climate targets and specifically recommended that Defra “Take low-cost, low-regret actions to encourage a 20% shift away from all meat by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050, and a 20% shift from dairy products by 2030, demonstrating leadership in the public sector whilst improving health.” This goal was reported as ‘overdue’ in the Committee’s 2023 annual report.
In its July 2024 report to Parliament the Climate Change Committee explicitly criticized the AHDB for continuing “to invest in proactive marketing campaigns to encourage meat and dairy consumption, despite the evidence showing that a reduction in meat and dairy consumption supports a shift towards low-carbon, sustainable and healthy diets.” One of their “priority policy recommendations” to the Government is to “Empower people to make low-carbon choices by communicating the most impactful ways to reduce emissions, such as changing car travel, home energy use and dietary behaviours… and support people to make these choices.”
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs for Humane Society International/UK, said “This AHDB campaign is reckless self-sabotage on Labour’s health and climate policy ambitions. As Ministers get to grips with how to deliver on manifesto pledges to reduce non-communicable diseases like heart attacks and cancers, and to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it makes zero sense for Defra to be quietly processing invoices for a lavish public marketing campaign that completely undermines both policy goals.
By law, the AHDB exists to help ‘improve the ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development’ yet this year almost half of its spend has been on a resolutely head-in-the-sand campaign trying to cling on to unhealthy and unsustainable over-consumption of meat and dairy. We urge the new Labour Government to recalibrate the AHDB to allow it to prioritise playing a positive role in marketing the UK’s horticultural produce, including vegetables, legumes and grains, and stop fixating on flogging dead cows, sheep and pigs.”
In addition to drawing criticism from the CCC, the AHDB’s campaign was criticized by health professionals in May for its “inaccurate and misleading public health messaging”, noting that the campaign is “at odds with established scientific evidence on healthy and sustainable diets” and makes “suggestive ‘health benefits’ whilst ignoring the guidance to limit meat intake, particularly red and processed meat”.
The AHDB’s expenditure, including that for the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign, is funded by an industry levy. However, information obtained through Freedom of Information requests this year revealed that the £4.6million campaign was approved by former farming Minister, former dairy farmer Mark Spencer.
Against a backdrop of European governments including Denmark, Germany and Norway actively promoting more plant-based eating, and introducing higher taxes on meat production, HSI/UK condemns the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign as a regressive initiative that makes the UK look out of sync with European momentum towards people and planet friendly food and farming policies.
Notes
Labour’s 2024 election manifesto includes a commitment to “take preventative public health measures to tackle the biggest killers and support people to live longer, healthier lives.” It also states that “Labour will ensure the institutional framework for policy making reflects our commitments to reach net zero and meet our carbon budgets.” and Labour “will deliver for nature, taking action to meet our Environment Act targets, and will work in partnership with civil society, communities and business to restore and protect our natural world.”
(a) increasing efficiency or productivity in the industry;
(b) improving marketing in the industry;
(c) improving or developing services that the industry provides or could provide to the community; and
(d) improving the ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development.
Defra reporting on AHDB spends over £25,000, January–June 2024. Line items for ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign include advertising agency costs, creative Gen Z partnership agency fees, and online banner placement with Sainsbury’s.
Month
Spend naming ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign
Total AHDB spend for month
January
£70,680
£669,934
February
£1,290,996
£1,916,876
March
£1,006,171
£1,993,229
April
£137,9191
£535,666
May
–
£645,358
June
£90,465
£410,567
Total
£2,596,231
£6,171,630
Based on a conservative interpretation of Defra’s spend reporting, 42% of the AHDB’s expenditure for January-June 2024 was on the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ and ‘Love Pork’ campaigns designed to convince the public to eat more red meat and dairy.
Media contact: Sally Ivens, senior specialist media and communications for HSI/UK ;sivens@hsi.org
Humane Society International / India
HSI
WAYANAD, Kerala—Humane Society International/India is on the ground in Kerala, southwest India, providing critical emergency relief to hundreds of animals affected by the devastating landslides and floods that hit Wayanad on July 30. The landslides, which have so far resulted in more than 350 human deaths with several hundred more people still missing, have also left hundreds of animals including dogs, cats and cattle trapped, stranded, injured and in desperate need of food or veterinary attention.
HSI/India has deployed its animal rescue team to aid relief efforts, including the distribution of 200kgs of emergency animal feed to stranded cattle, as well as medical and veterinary supplies, additional food and water rations, and providing shelter for animals.
HSI/India is working in coordination with official rescue teams, veterinary authorities and other local NGOs, and will expand relief efforts over the next few days to provide aid to more animals in two districts including Mundakkai and Chooralmala.
Praveen Suresh, HSI/India’s program manager of disaster response is on the ground and said: “Hundreds of animals are at risk in Wayanad’s Mundakkai and Chooralmala districts. The range of destruction caused by the series of landslides is something we did not expect to see. We are working around the clock to provide relief to every animal in need we come across. We also plan to strengthen our strategy which was focused on Wayanad for long term intervention for disaster risk reduction in the region.”
HSI/India has been actively working in Wayanad district of Kerala to build a disaster-resilient district for both humans and animals, and conducted flood preparedness trainings with communities and government to safeguard animals and their families during disasters like floods and landslides.
Media contact: Shaili Shah, sshah@hsi.org; +91 9930591005
Humane Society International / Mexico
HSI
MEXICO CITY, Mexico—Today, leading animal protection organization Humane Society International launched a nationwide petition urging newly elected legislators to protect animals in Mexico’s supreme law, the Constitution. The earlier constitutional initiative by President Andres Manuel López Obrador, set to include specific provisions in art. 3, 4 and 73 of the Constitution to ban animal abuse, grant Congress powers to legislate on animal welfare and establish animal protection as a mandatory education guideline, was effectively paused by the 2024 election season. Now, Humane Society International is rallying the public to revive this crucial constitutional amendment against animal cruelty under the new government.
Millions of dogs and cats roam the streets of major Mexican cities, suffering from cruelty, abandonment, disease and neglect. Mexico is home to billions of animals kept and killed for food, who are confined to cages or crates for months at a time, preventing them from extending their limbs or even walking, and forced to suffer in live transport and inhumane slaughter. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Mexico is also a major source and distribution hub of wildlife for illicit trade; half of the wildlife trafficking seizures at US entry points originate from Mexico, which also supplies illegal markets in Europe and Asia.
Anton Aguilar, HSI Mexico Executive Director, said: “Federal constitution-level safeguards would set a major legal precedent to prioritize animal protection in public policies, foster humane education and phase out cruel fiestas.It would reflect how social attitudes in Mexico have shifted away from cruelty and neglect towards a deep and genuine concern for animal welfare. We call on the incoming legislature, which will take office in September, to swiftly pass this consequential bill to turn Mexico into a leading example of animal protection legislation.”
Animal protection in Mexico has emerged as a significant political focus. This commitment was solidified in 2017 when Mexico City’s constitution recognized animals as sentient beings. Most Mexican states have enacted animal protection laws, incorporating penalties for abuse into their penal codes. Bullfighting has been banned in five states, dogfighting has been criminalized nationwide, and animal testing for cosmetics was prohibited in 2021. Moreover, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum’s emphasis on animal protection during the presidential debate and her party’s majority position signal a promising path for a constitutional amendment securing animal protection.
Sign the petition urging the new legislature to grant constitutional protection to animals.
ENDS
Media contact: Magaly Garibay, +52 5538762199, mgaribay@idee.agency
Humane Society International / Southeast Asia
HSI
HO CHI MINH CITY, Viet Nam—Humane Society International, a non-profit organization working around the globe to improve the welfare of animals, is proud to celebrate the long-term partnership between Pizza 4P’s and Tamago in their joint effort to eliminate battery cages and transition to cage-free facilities.
Recognizing the profound impact corporate reforms can have on the lives of millions of animals, HSI has made corporate social responsibility campaigns a fundamental priority. HSI played a key role in facilitating Pizza 4P’s transition to cage-free egg suppliers, leading to the successful partnership between Pizza 4P’s and Tamago.
In 2020, Pizza 4P’s, a restaurant chain headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City with locations across Viet Nam, Japan, India and Cambodia, became one of the first companies in Southeast Asia to commit to transitioning to sourcing eggs from cage-free hens. Cage-free production represents a strong welfare improvement over the industry’s antiquated intensive cage confinement systems in which hens are unable to spread their wings or take more than a few steps.
Tamago, a small-scale producer in northern Viet Nam, started a cage-free pilot project in 2023 to supply some of Pizza 4P’s locations in Hanoi. The pilot project demonstrated that hens were equally productive in the cage-free barn as they were in intensive cage confinement. As a result, Tamago decided to fully transition to a cage-free system.
Hoang Nguyen, director of Tamago, said: “Keeping cage-free birds is better for the animals and for the people who care for them. It also makes good business sense; after a one-year trial, the productivity of the cage-free hens is the same as those in cages. We are proud to offer a higher welfare alternative and thank Pizza 4P’s for helping us make this important switch. The long-term support from such companies is the key.”
Rising demand for eggs from cage-free hens at Pizza 4P’s northern locations has led Tamago to significantly expand its cage-free production. Initially supplying eggs to only a few stores, Tamago now supports all Pizza 4P’s locations in the northern regions. “As we continue on our path of responsible and sustainable sourcing, of which cage-free eggs are integral, we aspire to build even stronger partnerships with like-minded suppliers,” said Thu Vuong, sustainability manager at Pizza 4P’s. “Together, we aim to fulfill our vision of ’Making the World Smile for Peace’ and to cultivate a world infused with compassion through our actions.’’
Hang Le, Southeast Asia regional manager of Farm Animal Welfare and Protection at Humane Society International, said: “We applaud the long-term partnership between Pizza 4P’s and Tamago. This is a strong example of how a company can implement cage-free policy by working with its current eggs suppliers to end the use of intensive caging of hens. Many companies across Southeast Asia have committed to be cage-free by next year, giving them a matter of months to transition. HSI can offer technical support for this type of transition, so we urge these companies to follow suit and contact us for support in switching to a cage-free future.”
Cage-free systems provide animals with more space, freedom to move, and facilities for expressing their natural behaviors. A growing number of food and hospitality companies including Accor, Marriott and Fusion have adopted policies to procure eggs from cage-free hens as part of their corporate social responsibility goals. Cage-free production is the system of the future.
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Media contact: Carson Baer, media specialist; cbaer@humanesociety.org
