Opinion-Editorial: Alarm over battery cage cruelty met with stonewalling while 95% of SA’s laying hens suffer

Chicken and eggs have been in local and international news a lot lately - whether it is because egg prices in the US have reached record highs this year due to a bird flu outbreak in the region, or because of the recent abhorrent and horrific cruelty discovered at a local broiler farm, - a lot of important issues are being brought to the fore . However, despite these and other increasing issues associated with the farming of animals, and growing global awareness of the need for change, in South Africa concerns are also being raised over industry’s deliberate efforts to block reform and maintain inhumane, unsustainable practices in South Africa’s poultry, specifically egg industry.

In the past year, there has been a marked increase in stonewalling and bullying by industry leaders and complicity from government bodies. Despite attempts to engage industry role players, the response has been to double down, thereby extending the use of cruel battery cages and withholding vital information that is being used for policy decision-making. The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) went so far as to threaten potential litigation against a member of the Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute (SAFCEI) team if they didn’t desist from contacting and engaging the CGCSA’s members on the issue of hen welfare and egg production. They also advised their members against engaging effectively with civil society on this issue.

In response, SAFCEI and Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA) wrote  an Open Letter to the CGCSA, calling for an end to practices that block dialogue and transparency about where our eggs come from and requesting effective engagement. The letter is supported by a broader coalition of 24 civil society and non-profit organisations.

The letter, entitled ‘Eggsposing Foul Play in South Africa's Egg Industry’, details concerns that over 25 million laying hens in South Africa, the vast majority of the laying flock, are subjected to unnatural and unsustainable conditions and methods of egg production. Hens are crammed into tiny wire cages, enduring a lifetime of suffering without space to express natural, healthy behaviours—denied even the most basic protections that all animals deserve, as contained in the Five Freedoms.

The letter also outlines the problematic lack of transparency and accountability in South Africa’s egg industry, undermining the constitutional rights of consumers. For example, in 2020, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) commissioned the statutory body National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) to conduct a study to assess the viability of the South African egg industry if a policy to end the use of cages was introduced. The industry-funded study claims there would be huge costs and unemployment if the country transitioned to cage-free egg systems.

To give more context on the concentration of the egg industry in South Africa, commercial egg production is dominated by only three major producers: Eggbert, Nulaid and Highveld Cooperative. These companies command around 51% of the market share. With a gross turnover of R14,5 billion at producer level, eggs are the fourth largest animal product sector in agriculture. The total value of the South African egg market at retail level in 2024 was estimated to be around R26 billion dominated by only a handful of big players such as Shoprite-Checkers, Spar, Woolworths, Pick ‘n Pay, and MassMart (most of whom are CGCSA members). In 2022, on average, retailers increased the price of large eggs by over 100% sold to the public. More damning is the evidence that they don’t pass savings onto consumers, according to the competition watchdog in late 2024. And if the recent news cycle from the USA is anything to go by, it is clear that the price of eggs matters as a yardstick when it comes to the economy and political decision-making.

Accordingly, the data behind this NAMC study is undeniably of public interest, yet it remains hidden from consumers. Over 4,000 people have signed a petition demanding its release - nonetheless, the full report has still not been made accessible to the public. Organisations, including ALRSA, have attempted for years to obtain the study through numerous requests to the NAMC, SAPA, the CGCSA and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, including utilising the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA) and even approaching the Information Regulator. Industry and government continue to use the findings to promote the use of cages while not granting access to the source information. The official position in South Africa seems to be trying to maintain the status quo until at least 2039, while over 25.5 million laying hens (95%) are suffering in caged production, with only 5% being cage-free (4%  free-range and 1% barn).

Our concerns about the opacity in the industry are further explored in ALRSA’s recent “Scrambling for the Truth” report, which highlights how many consumers might care about animal welfare, but most lack access to information on food production (specifically eggs) and its impact on animals, human health and the environment. Without this information, consumers remain in the dark and are unable to make informed and ethically aligned choices. An earlier report “Laying Down the Facts” explores how the South African egg industry impacts animal welfare, the environment, food safety, health, social issues and rights, and business practices.

The need to move away from cages for hens is also to be considered against a global context where over 30 countries have completely banned some form of caged egg production, and nearly 2,600 public commitments have been made by food corporations around the world- removing cages from their egg supply chains. A number of leading South African businesses have pledged to go cage-free or have already achieved this standard. Considering consumers' experiences in recent years with egg shortages and high prices due to repeated avian flu outbreaks impacting livelihoods and resulting in the mass killing of our national flock, the response by the South African egg industry to these issues is even more concerning.

For all of these reasons, SAFCEI and ALRSA, along with other co-signatories of the Open Letter, have called upon the CGCSA to take seven actions in accordance with their byline: “Integrity. Excellence. Accountability.” This includes refraining from silencing and intimidatory tactics; promoting transparency; incorporating animal welfare within their purview; promoting consumer and constitutional rights; fostering accountability; refraining from engaging in potentially collusive practices; and encouraging effective engagement with the public and concerned organisations.

We sent the Open letter to the CGCSA in February, and while they have still not responded formally over 2 months later, they have attempted to distance themselves from the issues raised and shirk accountability. In a statement, the CGCSA dismissed the concerns raised as “misdirected” and “not within  their scope”, failing to acknowledge their direct letter sent to SAFCEI and their own members on these matters. They also indicated that “the sector follows’ regulations”, not admitting their extensive efforts (including litigation) in the regulatory space for food products.

It is clear that the CGCSA have either misunderstood the detailed Open Letter or are deliberately attempting to divert attention and responsibility to other stakeholders. Either way, their initial response indicates a failure of their own values, including “Accountability” and “Integrity”. Despite having “consumer” in their name, as an industry representative, they appear to be committed to protecting corporate interests at the expense of consumers, the environment and animals.

Our position has not changed: we will continue to seek constructive and evidence-based dialogue and to push for transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform in South Africa’s poultry industry. The future of millions of hens, human health, consumer rights, and environmental sustainability depends on it.

By Francesca de Gasparis and Amy P Wilson