Who Let The Hens Out? Dunkin’ Did.

Dunkin’ Donuts says 10 percent of all the eggs used in its breakfast sandwiches in the U.S. will be from cage-free chickens by the end of the year, and is studying the feasibility of transitioning to 100 percent cage-free eggs in its more than 10,000 stores worldwide.

Michelle King, the senior director of global public relations for Dunkin’ Brands, says the company will be mapping out its international supply chain “to understand the feasibility of transitioning to 100 percent cage-free eggs globally, and, based on this assessment, establish a global target” with benchmarks moving toward the ultimate goal.

[mf_blockquote layout=”left”]”Cage free” refers to eggs from chickens that are housed in barns that allow them to engage in natural behavior such as roaming, nesting and stretching their wings. It doesn’t necessarily mean they have access to the outdoors.[/mf_blockquote]

The company also plans to source all its pork products for its more than 7,000 U.S. stores from suppliers that do not use controversial gestation crates that keep sows in confined spaces so small they are unable to turn around. The move to gestation crate-free pork is scheduled to be completed by 2022, says the company.

Dunkin’ Brands, Dunkin’ Donuts’ parent company, is working with its suppliers and the Humane Society of the United States to improve its animal welfare policy and meet its target goals, according to the company.

King says the company is committed to “corporate social responsibility.” Back in 2012, Dunkin’ Donuts set a goal of sourcing 5 percent of its eggs for its U.S. breakfast sandwiches from cage-free sources, which it has achieved.

“This new goal demonstrates not only our success in achieving [the earlier] goal, but also our overall commitment to animal welfare. We also know consumers today are seeking greater transparency as it pertains to their personal food and beverage choices,” King told Modern Farmer in an email.

King’s statement concerning consumers’ choices may be the key takeaway here. Like McDonald’s, which has recently stopped making French fries from genetically modified potatoes, and is in the process of phasing out chicken treated with antibiotics, Dunkin’ Donuts’ announcement comes at a time when the industry is attempting to lure customers back by improving its healthy food choices. Providing meat that’s humanely raised and produce that isn’t genetically modified could go a long way toward improving the industry’s image.