Iceland is on fire after abandoning its promise to lay eggs by 2025. This means the animal welfare group says retailers are lagging behind the rest of the grocery sector.
According to a 2023 Eggtrack report from Compassion in World Agriculture (CIWF), more than 60% of Icelandic eggs still come from hens stored in cages, indicating minimal progress since their original commitment made in 2026.
In response, the CIWF has joined forces with the Humanitarian League, Open Cage and the RSPCA to reconsider its decision and work together in an open letter calling on Iceland to respect its pledge.
Although 82% of eggs produced in the UK are currently cage-free, some major supermarkets, including M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury and Co-op, already contain 100% cages, both shellfish eggs and egg ingredients.
Even people in transition, such as Tesco, Aldi and Riddle, have made demonstrable progress in recent years, according to animal welfare organizations.
However, Iceland defends the decision by citing cost concerns, claiming that selling eggs in cages can help provide customers with a lower price.
However, critics point out that eggs placed in the chain’s own cages are now more expensive than alternatives that are more expensive than eggs in Tesco’s barn.
“We’re committed to providing a range of services to our customers,” said Philip Lymbery, CIWF’s global CEO.
“Nearly after 10 years of action, there is no excuse for delay. It is shameful that Iceland prioritizes profits over moral ethics. Everyone deserves access to higher welfare foods, regardless of income.”
New data from Kantar suggests a strong market shift, with 87% of all shell eggs sold at UK retailers currently being cage-free, up from 78.5% just six months ago.
According to the CIWF, Iceland’s backtrack decision is increasingly isolated from both industry peers and the growing population of welfare-conscious shoppers.
“Consumers don’t want eggs in cages. They expect affordable and good welfare as the standard,” added Limbally.
“Iceland’s decision to abandon the cageless pledge is not merely a promise of a promise, but a betrayal of trust and a step backward for animal welfare.
“It’s time for Iceland to catch up with other sectors and create a cage-free baseline, not an exception.”
Activists are also asking the government to intervene. The CIWF has banned Defra from installing new cage systems and phasing out existing systems as part of its animal welfare strategy.
