Subway Faces Backlash Over Cage-Free Egg Commitment

Subway is under fire for its stalled commitment to switch over to 100% cage-free eggs by what it promised to be around the end of 2025. The Humane League, a non-profit dedicated to animal welfare, has launched a national campaign to pressure the company for more transparency regarding its pledge which it made nearly a decade ago.

The last update acquired from Subway in 2020 shared a paltry 27% of its North American egg supply being cage-free. Since then, the fast-casual sandwich chain has remained silent raising concerns among consumers and activists alike. “Subway made a promise to its customers, its franchisees, and to the nearly 300,000 egg-laying hens in its supply chain,” said Anna Peer, Senior Campaigns Lead for The Humane League. “That promise is now in jeopardy.”

As the public demands for brands and franchises to be held more accountable, The Humane League is pushing forward with protests and an arresting poster campaign featuring Subway’s Interim CEO Carrie Walsh in Miami, where Subway is headquartered. With other industry giants like McDonald’s and KFC making strides toward cage-free transitions, Subway’s standstill action is under a spotlight with The Humane League fighting to hold it accountable with consumers right behind them.

According to the press release shared by The Humane League, “Battery cages, still used throughout Subway’s supply chain, are linked to extreme animal suffering and public health threats.” As activists rally for change, consumers are encouraged to visit SubwayScandal.com to learn more and join the movement for a more humane food system. This feels like it is long overdue.