Mondelez to source only cage-free eggs by 2020

DEERFIELD - Mondelez International said it will use only cage-free eggs in the United States and Canada by 2020 and in Europe by 2025.

The move follows years of progress in sustainable and responsible sourcing, including improving the welfare of egg-laying chickens in the supply chain, the company said.

"With the ambition of being the global leader in well-being snacks, we're making great strides in ensuring sustainable and responsible production of our products and sourcing of our ingredients," said Jonathan Horrell, director of sustainability. "Meaningful commitments such as these take time, in both planning and implementation, but we're very pleased to announce this major step forward in our cage-free sourcing.

"We ultimately want all eggs to be produced cage-free, and we'll continue to advance conversations with suppliers to establish timelines for cage-free production in other regions, when we have evidence that commercially viable supplies are available," said Horrell.

Mondelez currently uses 100 percent cage-free eggs in all of its European chocolate brands as well as in its biscuit products sold in Belgium and the Netherlands.