Egg Industry , To Make Multibillion <br />Dollar Transition , To Cage-Free .<br />In response to new laws, the United States' <br />egg producers are in the midst of a massive <br />multibillion-dollar shift to cage-free eggs. .<br />'Time' reports that the shift dramatically <br />changes the lives of millions of hens. .<br />In 2010, just 4% of hens <br />lived in cage-free housing. .<br />Ten years later, in 2020, <br />28% were cage-free. .<br />According to 'Time,' that number <br />is expected to more than double <br />in the next four years to reach 70%. .<br />The change reportedly represents one of the <br />biggest successes of the animal welfare <br />movement's battle against the food industry. .<br />What we producers failed <br />to realize early on was that <br />the people funding all the animal <br />rights activist groups, they were our <br />customers. And at the end of the day, <br />we have to listen to our customers, Marcus Rust, the CEO of Indiana-based Rose Acre Farms, via 'Time'.<br />'Time' reports that many companies view the shift to cage-free as good for their brand's image. .<br />McDonald's, which purchases roughly 2 billion eggs annually, said that the company's gradual shift to cage-free came in response to customers' wishes. .<br />McDonald's, which purchases roughly 2 billion eggs annually, said that the company's gradual shift to cage-free came in response to customers' wishes. .<br />In 2015, a Gallup poll showed that almost two thirds<br />of Americans believe that animals deserve <br />to be protected from exploitation and harm.<br />According to 'Time,' egg companies in the <br />U.S. house approximately 325 million hens.
