Episode 135: Cage-Free Cracked Open with Amber Canavan

Cage-free eggs are everywhere. They are now available at most every grocery store, a muffin lists cage-free eggs in the ingredients, and a restaurant touts cage-free omelettes on their menu. Is this a win for hens? We crack into this question with Amber Canavan examining PETA’s new document called, “White Paper On the Failure of Cage-Free Housing Systems To Reduce Over All Hen Suffering”.

On this episode, Amber shares why PETA released this white paper, how cage-free facilities can actually create new and worse conditions for hens, and how humanewashing eases consumers concerns about the treatment of farmed animals. Amber and Hope both share first hand experience of witnessing cage-free facilities and the reality of cage-free egg farming.

Amber Canavan is Associate Director of Vegan Campaigns at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Her victories include persuading Costco, Target, and Albertsons to stop selling coconut milk sourced from brands that used forced monkey labor in Thailand; getting Kikkoman soy source to end decades-long experiments on animals; compelling Starbucks, Dutch Bros, and other coffee chains to drop a vegan milk upcharge; and orchestrating the rescue of over 400 hens from a cage free egg facility that was shutting down. She has worked on various animal rights legislation, including the foie gras sales ban that passed in New York City.

Resources:

PETA’s Cage-Free White Paper

The Cage-Free Conundrum, Hope for the Animals Podcast Episode 100

The Humane Deception with Lia Wilbourn, Hope for the Animals Podcast Episode 124