FORIMMEDIATERELEASE:
MEDIACONTACTS:
TheHumaneLeague
JessieLingenfelter
(803)730-2869
[email protected]
www.thehumaneleague.com
UnitedEggProducers
HindaMitchell
614-537-8926
[email protected]
UNITEDEGGPRODUCERSANNOUNCESELIMINATIONOF
CHICKCULLINGBY2020
TheHumaneLeagueconvincesAmerica’slargestrepresentativeofeggproducersto
takeahistoricstanceonendingthepracticeofshreddingnewbornmalechicks
(Alpharetta,GA-June9,2016)–FollowingexclusiveconversationswithTheHumaneLeague,
UnitedEggProducersannouncedtodaythatitwilleliminatethecullingofmalechicksategglaying
henhatcheriesby2020orassoonasitiscommerciallyavailableandeconomicallyfeasible,
replacingthepracticewithin-ovoeggsexingtechnology.UnitedEggProducersrepresents95%of
alleggsproducedinthecountry,makingtoday’sstatementhistoricinitsfirmstanceagainstthe
cullingofnewbornmalechicks,whichiscurrentlystandardpracticeintheeggindustry.
“UnitedEggProducersisproudtohaveworkedwithTheHumaneLeagueonthiscommitmentto
supporttheeliminationofdayoldmalechickcullingafterhatchforthelayingindustry,”saidChad
Gregory,PresidentandCEOofUnitedEggProducers."Weareawarethatthereareanumberof
internationalresearchinitiativesunderwayinthisarea,andweencouragethedevelopmentofan
alternativewiththegoalofeliminatingthecullingofdayoldmalechicksby2020orassoonasitis
commerciallyavailableandeconomicallyfeasible."
Currentlyintheeggindustry,allfemalechicksthatarehatchedwillgoontobecomelayerhens,but
theindustryhasnouseforthemalechicks.Abouthalfofallhatchedchicksineggproductionare
culledbecausetheywillnotproduceeggsorefficientlygrowaschickensrearedformeat.Itisan
industrystandardtothrowthesemalechicks-whilestillaliveandjusthoursold-intoahigh-speed
industrialgrinder,orbyothermeans.Hundredsofmillionsofnewbornmalechicksarekilledthis
wayeachyearintheUnitedStates,whichisthesecondlargesteggproducingcountryintheworld.
Toaddressthispracticeofcullingday-oldchicks,anewtechnologydevelopedbyGermanscientists
determinesthesexofeachfertilizedeggbeforethechickinsidedevelops.Theembryo-sexing
technology,whichshouldsoonbeavailableforcommercialuseineggproduction,willenablethe
terminationofallmale-identifiedeggsfromthehatchery,preventingthemfromeverbeinghatched
orculled.Thisisbothamoreethicalandmoresustainableprocess,whichwillremovetensof
thousandsofhensfromfactoryfarmingasthemale-identifiedeggswillbeusedforanalternative
supply,likevaccinationsorpetfood.TheGermangovernmentrecentlymadeasimilarcommitment
toputthistechnologytousewithinthenextfewyears.
“UnitedEggProducer’sdecisiontoenditssupportofcullingbabymalechicksishistoric,asitwill
virtuallyeliminatethispracticeintheAmericaneggindustry,”saidDavidComan-Hidy,Executive
DirectorofTheHumaneLeague.“Weareproudtohaveplayedsuchapivotalroleindoingaway
withthisbarbaricconventionandtohelppavethewaytoamorehumanefuture.Itisclearthat
chickcullingwillsoonbeathingofthepastintheUnitedStates."
Afterdrivingprogressinthecage-freeeggmovementbysecuringcommitmentstoeliminatecages
fromthesupplychainsofover150companies,includingWalmart,Kroger,Sodexo,ConAgraand
Denny’s,TheHumaneLeagueapproachedUnitedEggProducersearlierthisyearwitharequestto
workoneliminatingthepracticeofchickculling.Throughexclusiveconversationsandstrategizing,
TheHumaneLeagueandUnitedEggProducersdeterminedafeasibletimelinefortheegg
producersthecooperationrepresentstoimplementthenewembryo-sexingtechnologyasit
becomesavailableforcommercialuse.In2014,Unilevermadeasimilarcommitmenttoconvertto
thistechnology,buttoday’sannouncementprovesthatthiswillsoonbecomethenormforthe
entireeggindustry.UnitedEggProducer’sdecisiontosupporttheeliminationofnewbornmale
chickcullingisahistorictippingpointandwillpreventthesufferingofhundredsofmillionsof
animalseachyear.
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AboutTheHumaneLeague
Sinceitsfoundingin2005,TheHumaneLeaguehasappliedagrassroots-focusedandresults-driven
approachtoendingthecagingofhensintheeggindustryworldwide.Oneoftheleadingnational
farmedanimalprotectionnonprofits,TheHumaneLeaguehassecuredcommitmentstoeliminate
cagesfromthesupplychainsofmajorfoodserviceproviders,restaurants,foodmanufacturers,
hospitalityleaders,andothermajorcompanies,includingWalmart,Kroger,Target,Aldi,FoodLion,
Sodexo,ConAgraandDenny’s.
TheHumaneLeagueisfundedthroughgenerousdonationsbyitsworldwidenetworkofsupporters
andhasbeennamedTopCharitybyAnimalCharityEvaluatorsfor4yearsinarow.Thisyear,The
OpenPhilanthropyProjecthasannouncedthattheywillbegrantingTheHumaneLeague$1million
tosupportitscampaignsforcorporatecage-freeeggreform.Tolearnmoreabouthowtodonateto
whatPeterSingerhascalled“oneofthemosteffectiveanimalcharitiesintheworld,”visit
thehumaneleague.com.
MEDIACONTACTS:
TheHumaneLeague
JessieLingenfelter
(803)730-2869
[email protected]
www.thehumaneleague.com
UnitedEggProducers
HindaMitchell
614-537-8926
[email protected]