Taipei: On December 1, Carrefour Taiwan will become the first major retailer in the country to exclusively sell cage-free eggs in all of its Taipei outlets. This significant move comes on the heels of renewed food safety concerns, following the discovery of eggs contaminated with the pesticide fipronil in Taiwan, where the market is still predominantly filled with eggs from hens kept in cages or enriched cages.
According to Focus Taiwan, Carrefour's shift to cage-free eggs is not a mere reaction to recent events. Marilyn Su, CEO of the Carrefour Foundation, has been leading this initiative for eight years, driven by the belief that animal welfare is crucial for human prosperity. Unlike caged systems where hens are crowded in tight spaces conducive to parasite spread, cage-free hens enjoy movement and self-cleaning opportunities, reducing the need for insecticides like fipronil.
Carrefour's commitment to cage-free eggs traces back to 2017 when fipronil was first detected in Taiwan's eggs. The subsequent discovery of expired eggs being mixed by a legal liquid-egg processor prompted a thorough investigation into the egg supply chain. Su realized that ensuring egg safety necessitated traceability, leading Carrefour to work directly with producers instead of relying on multiple wholesalers.
To promote cage-free eggs, Su approached small local farms, encouraging the transition from traditional battery cages to cage-free systems. This aligns with international standards, as the European Union banned battery cages in 2012. Su emphasized that the quality and quantity of egg production are contingent on the hens' health, citing data from the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan that showed a higher lay rate for cage-free hens compared to traditional farms.
Su also worked to convince end users of the benefits of cage-free eggs, visiting hotels, restaurants, and caf©s like the Taipei Marriott and Toasteria, and persuading some to switch after demonstrating the differences from battery cage environments. Rather than simply pushing Carrefour's own products, she provided a list of suppliers from the Cage-Free Alliance, underscoring that the initiative prioritizes industry-wide transformation over short-term commercial gain.
Carrefour plans to phase out caged eggs from all stores nationwide by October 2026, beginning with Taipei outlets in December. Despite an initial dip in egg revenue when testing stores that sold only cage-free eggs, Carrefour persisted, lowering the cost of cage-free eggs to match those of caged and enriched-cage eggs through direct farmer partnerships and other logistical measures.
The recent fipronil contamination incident, leading to the recall of over 150,000 eggs, has spurred demand for cage-free eggs, doubling Carrefour's cage-free egg revenue in November. Su highlighted that this crisis increased public awareness and understanding of the importance of transitioning to cage-free systems.
Beyond animal welfare and food safety, Su advocates for the superior taste and quality of cage-free eggs, noting that many consumers become regular buyers after trying them.