The City Lodge Hotel Group (CLHG) has 61 properties (and growing) across Africa, which will all be serving exclusively cage-free eggs by 2025. This will include not only shell eggs, but also liquid eggs and processed products that contain eggs.
“This is one of several steps that CLHG is taking on its sustainability, environmentally-friendly and responsible tourism journey.”
The group has been working on this new policy with the Humane Society International-Africa (HSI-Africa) for more than two years. Ross Phinn, divisional director: operations at CLHG, says, “This is one of several steps that CLHG is taking on its sustainability, environmentally-friendly and responsible tourism journey.”
Leozette Roode, media and outreach manager for HSI-Africa, adds, “Consumers rely on food companies to ensure high standards of animal care in their supply chains, and CLHG is taking the lead to improve the lives of animals in South Africa’s food system. This move will relieve thousands of egg-laying hens from a life of extreme confinement, and sends a clear message to the egg industry that the future of egg production is cage-free. We are looking forward to working with CLHG to implement this commitment and encourage other food service providers to follow their example.”
According to HSI-Africa, approximately 86% of egg-laying hens in South Africa spend their entire lives confined in wire battery cages with a floor space smaller than a piece of A4 paper. As a result, the hens cannot perform any of their natural behaviours, and are often in a state of chronic social stress due to extreme overcrowding. Studies show that battery caged hens suffer from psychological stress as well as physical harm, and battery cages are considered one of the cruellest forms of factory farming practices.
