Dunkin’ Donuts sets goals for eggs from cage-free hens

Dunkin’ Donuts has set goals to eventually require all eggs to come from cage-free hens and also require that its pork suppliersnot use gestation crates.

The company said it mapped its international supply chain to best understand the feasibility of transitioning to 100 percent cage-free eggs globally and, based on the assessment, established immediate and longer-term goals.

As an immediate step, 10 percent of all eggs sourced for Dunkin’ Donuts breakfast sandwiches in the United States will be cage-free by the end of next year.

Also, Dunkin’ Donuts will source only gestation crate-free pork in the United States by 2022.

The company announcement was made in partnership with The Humane Society of the United States, which said Dunkin’ Brands is working with suppliers and the animal welfare group to update policies and reach the goals.

Christine Riley Miller, senior director of corporate social responsibility for Dunkin’ Brands, said in a media statement, “Dunkin’ Brands and our franchisee community care about the welfare of animals and their humane treatment. We set a goal to source 5 percent cage-free eggs by 2013, an accomplishment we are proud to have achieved. Now, working with our suppliers and The Humane Society of the United States, we are setting new commitments to help the egg and pork industries eliminate cages to demonstrate our responsibility to animal welfare and sustainable, ethical sourcing.”

At The Humane Society, senior food policy director Josh Balk, stated, “Dunkin’s commitment to improve the lives of farm animals is taking another positive step. This new policy is further testament that consumers and companies are aligned in shifting the egg and pork industries away from confining animals in cages.”

The Humane Society said the company’s commitment to animal welfare will be included in the its corporate social responsibility report, which will be released later this spring.