Overview
- Chick-fil-A disclosed Wednesday it had updated its website to say its 2016 pledge to use only cage-free eggs by the end of 2026 may not be met because of bird flu and wider industry strains.
- The chain, which serves eggs in breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and an egg-white grill, did not reveal its current cage-free share and declined to comment beyond the posted statement.
- Avian influenza outbreaks have led producers to cull entire flocks, cutting egg supply and making steady sourcing harder across the United States.
- Cage-free capacity has expanded, with nearly half of U.S. egg-laying hens cage-free by 2025, and rivals such as McDonald’s and Starbucks report completing their transitions.
- At least nine states, including California, Massachusetts, and Colorado, require cage-free eggs, and Chick-fil-A says it complies with those laws where it operates.