In India, most eggs come from hens locked in battery cages—small wire enclosures where each bird gets less space than an A4 sheet of paper. These cages stop hens from doing basic things like stretching their wings, nesting, perching, or dust bathing. This leads to a lifetime of severe physical and mental suffering.
Scientific research and global animal welfare standards have long recognised battery cages as one of the most cruel forms of animal confinement. Activists, consumers, and civil society have also raised their voices. And it has made a difference. The European Union banned battery cages more than ten years ago. Meanwhile, over 2,600 companies—hotels, restaurants, and food service brands—have pledged to go cage-free across the world.
These companies are responding to public pressure. People want humane food choices. They expect businesses to act with ethics and responsibility.
But now comes the real test.
Most of these cage-free pledges are due by the end of 2025. With the deadline near, we are watching closely. How we treat animals in our food systems reflects who we are as a society. Promises alone don’t count—real impact does.
At Bharat Initiative for Accountability, we strongly oppose battery cages. We believe in a kinder future for animals. It’s time for companies to live up to their word—and for India to stop being treated as a dumping ground for practices long banned elsewhere.
The future is cage-free.