January 18, 2012
Hens will be clucking a little easier
Thanks to compassionate U of T students and WSPA's Choose Cage Free campaign
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is thrilled to be back visiting the University of Toronto again, this time at the University of St. Michael's College on Friday, January 20. As part of the Choose Cage Free campaign, WSPA will be encouraging students and staff to make the plucky choice for the welfare of hens.
Last year, three food service managers at St. George campus committed to switching a percentage of their eggs to cage free (free-run, free-range or organic). Cage free eggs are now being served at Chestnut Residence, New College Cafeteria in Wilson Hall and the Howard Ferguson Dining Hall at University College.
St. Michael's is now the fourth location to support more humane eating. To demonstrate their commitment, the food services department is hosting a Cage Free Egg Day and serving free-run eggs in the Canada Room on Friday (January 20). "Chartwells is committed to reducing our use of eggs from caged hens. This is a first step for our company, and we're proud to be making this significant contribution to improving the welfare of farm animals," says Ashlee Arscott, Food Service Director for Chartwells College & University Dining at St. Michael's College.
For Cage Free Day, join WSPA staff and volunteers in the Canada Room (from 11:30 to 3:00) to see an actual battery cage, just like those found in the majority of Canadian egg-laying operations and to add your voice in support of a switch to cage free eggs by signing the petition.
"We are proud to be part of Cage Free Egg Day and we applaud St. Mike's and Chartwells for supporting animal welfare," says Melissa Matlow, WSPA Canada's Campaigns Manager, Humane and Sustainable Agriculture. "We hope that the response from students and staff on Friday will encourage Chartwells to make the switch to cage free eggs permanently. St. Michael's College would be joining more than 350 other universities and colleges in Canada and the United States that have reduced or eliminated their use of eggs from caged hens."
As a result of student support for WSPA's campaign, Humber College, York University and the University of Windsor recently committed to switch a portion of their eggs to cage free. Now with the University of Toronto on board, the impact of these schools' purchasing decisions has grown. More than 400,000 eggs annually will now come from hens that have the freedom move, stretch their wings and nest.
