LAKELAND — Publix Super Markets has responded to a campaign by the Humane Society of the United States and others urging the grocery chain to exclusively sell cage-free eggs.
“We understand that there are customers who want the food industry and all retailers, including Publix, to offer only 100 percent cage-free shell eggs as soon as possible,” the statement from Publix said. “In addition to animal welfare concerns, there are several other factors to consider: the higher costs and retail price associated with cage-free eggs, the speed of this industry change, current WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) regulations preventing the purchase of cage-free eggs, and the potential inability of smaller farmers to make the large necessary investments causing them to go out of business.”
The Lakeland-based grocer highlighted its current cage-free options, which include Publix GreenWise, Eggland’s Best, 4 Grain, Country Hen, Handsome Brook Farm, and Pete & Gerry’s. Publix also announced it would soon introduce a Grade A Large cage-free egg offering called Sunups in the majority of its stores. The chain said Sunups will be less expensive than some of the cage-free eggs offered today.
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