The Hidden Nightmare
Inside the Global
Egg Industry:
A Life in Cages
Over 6 billion hens globally are used in egg production — and approximately 84% of them are kept in battery cages, where they live almost their entire lives without enough space to spread their wings.
In these systems, hens are crammed into cages no larger than an A4 sheet of paper, unable to nest, perch, dust-bathe, or engage in many of their natural behaviors — which can lead to extreme stress, feather loss, bone fragility, and psychological trauma.
Despite their suffering, this system remains the standard in many countries, with large corporations still profiting from eggs sourced from caged operations.
Battery cages can also present public health risks: studies suggest that cage systems are more prone to Salmonella contamination than cage-free alternatives.
The Global Numbers
The Scale
of Suffering
Each year, the world produces more than 1.5 trillion eggs, with the majority coming from hens in intensive, industrial systems.
Thanks to activism, legislation, and consumer pressure, countries like Germany, Switzerland, and parts of the EU have banned or are phasing out battery cages, while others — including Brazil, India, and much of Southeast Asia — still rely heavily on caged systems for egg production.
Global brands have made cage-free pledges for their international supply chains, but transparency in the status of this transition and enforcement of such corporation policies remain uneven.
Take Action
Consumer Power
Choose more compassionate alternatives whenever possible. Every purchase is a vote for a more humane system.