USA

This year marked a milestone in the U.S. transition from conventional battery cages to cage-free systems, as most food companies set 2025 as their commitment timelines. Overall, progress has remained strong, despite supply chain hiccups such as HPAI, which has become less of a disruption and more part of the fabric of egg production: producers have adjusted flock sizes accordingly and are now more prepared, reducing the risk of further volatility. As of April 2026, 48% of the U.S. laying flock is cage-free compared to 40% in 2024.

State laws preventing the production and/or sale of eggs from hens kept in cages in 10 states remain firmly intact, with Colorado and Michigan joining the list of active bans in 2025. Four additional states, Nebraska, Minnesota, New York, and Georgia, began including cage-free options under their Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). New York and Georgia––ranking 3rd and 6th in WIC participation—represent especially significant gains. Now 41 states (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) have cage-free options, covering 86-89% of WIC participants.

Within the corporate food sector, companies that hadn’t yet fulfilled 2025 commitments had a number of options: while some commitments are no longer online (Flowers Foods, Wakefern) or progress stalled, leaders took advantage of the opportunity to build momentum. Several major brands—including Bloomin’ Brands, Dairy Queen, and Jack in the Box—completed their U.S. transitions in the past year and now report 100% cage-free. Others chose significant acceleration to reach 100% within a single EggTrack cycle, like Dine Brands U.S. (previously 35%) and White Castle (previously 19%), underscoring just how quickly diligent brands may be able to transition.

Some companies transitioned ahead of schedule, like Conagra—making the jump from 64% to 100% a year early—and Krispy Kreme, which, along with Subway, completed its transition after previously not reporting. Companies like 7-Eleven even reported cage-free progress for the first time.

Others continued to make progress, some with renewed commitments via roadmaps and timeline readjustments. Ahold Delhaize and Target both published plans to reach 100% cage-free, with Target notably including a robust framework to drive short-term progress alongside its long-term 100% cage-free commitment.

34 entities are 100% cage-free across their full scope of egg categories