Two more state WIC programs have added cage-free eggs to their supplemental nutrition programs at the start of 2024—the final year before many national retailer cage-free commitments are due to come into effect. This brings the total number of states that allow WIC shoppers to purchase cage-free eggs to 34, representing 72.0% of all WIC participants, or roughly 4.6 million people. Louisiana and Alaska are the latest states to approve higher welfare eggs for lower income families Louisiana, the #24 largest state by WIC participation, authorized cage-free and organic eggs on their food card in February, shortly after Alaska #46 added several cage-free egg brands to their list of WIC-approved foods. These states join the likes of California, Texas, and Florida—the three largest WIC states—in removing the income barrier to this higher welfare, and oftentimes healthier, food choice. Retailers continue to transition to 100% cage-free by 2025 These state WIC approvals come as agencies work to ensure participants still have access to eggs as leading retailers march towards their commitments to sell only cage-free eggs. Target, Walmart and Albertsons all have commitments to reach 100% by 2025. The latest version of Compassion in World Farming’s EggTrack report—the seventh annual edition—shows that Target is reporting 57% of its eggs are currently cage-free, Walmart is at 21% and Albertsons is at 27%. Publix, which has a commitment to reach 100% cage-free by 2026 remains at around 60%. States await decision on funding package While most states continue to authorize cage-free eggs, some agencies are waiting on the outcome of a new WIC funding decision by the United States Congress before deciding to expand access. At the end of January, Senate and House Appropriations chairs announced that they had reached an agreement on funding allocations for fiscal year 2024 Appropriations bills, but those allocations have yet to be made public. If WIC does receive full funding as we cautiously expect, states will have even more reason to authorize cage-free eggs in the future. The last state to do so is a rotten egg!
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Check to see if your state WIC program authorizes cage-free eggs https://www.ciwf.com/public-policy/cage-free-and-wic/
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Following confirmation of a HPAI outbreak at a Maricopa County facility affecting 2.3 million egg-laying hens, Animal Outlook's investigator travelled to Arizona to record depopulation efforts at Hickman's Eggs in Tonopah. The footage shows piles of dead birds being poured into dump trucks by wheel loaders scooping out huge barns and workers without personal protective equipment covering their eyes, face, and mouth.
Animal Outlook's investigation was picked up by Newsweek and press across the state.
Thanks to Dr. Crystal Heath of Our Honor for her expert guidance.
Following the investigation, Hickman's, which is the largest egg producer in the Southwest and the 16th largest egg producer in the US overall, announced it was shutting down the vast majority of its operations for two years after admitting that bird flu had impacted six million of the birds in its facilities.
https://animaloutlook.org/investigations/hickmans-eggs-investigation/
