Cage Eggs in French Supermarkets: Promises and Reality

Yet the egg cartons conceal a far more complicated reality.

For years, many supermarkets have promoted animal welfare and responsible shopping commitments, but a fresh look at their shelves presents a different picture. Despite high-profile pledges to end cage farming, large quantities of eggs still come from hens spending their lives confined in cramped cages.

Broken promises? What the new investigation reveals

In January 2026, animal welfare organisation Anima and the Data for Good data collective visited 386 French supermarkets and hypermarkets. Their aim was to establish whether major retail chains were honouring their commitment to stop selling cage eggs.

The finding: at least one pack of eggs from caged hens was on sale in 73 per cent of the stores surveyed.

This means the proportion of supermarkets stocking cage eggs remains unexpectedly high. On paper, almost every major chain had pledged years ago to phase out cage farming completely from the beginning of 2026, including for own-brand products.

In practice, the situation appears more complex. The survey found considerable variation between individual chains:

• Only around 3.6% of Monoprix stores still stocked cage eggs.
• At Carrefour and E.Leclerc, more than 80% of stores had cage eggs on their shelves.
• At Système U, Auchan and Lidl, the figure exceeded 90%.

For shoppers, this creates a conflicting impression: anyone familiar with the advertising campaigns might have expected very different figures. The investigation demonstrates how wide the gap remains between public commitments and the reality of sales.

From 51 to 14 per cent: the long move away from cages

Despite the criticism, the market has shifted noticeably in recent years. French research institute Itavi puts the share of cage eggs in food retail as follows:

The 14 per cent figure is a historic low, but it also confirms that cage farming has not disappeared. The transition in hen housing looks particularly slow when examining the number of places in poultry sheds. According to industry figures, the proportion of hens kept in cages has fallen from around 67% of the flock in 2016 to roughly one quarter today.

The sector is targeting about 90% cage-free production from 2030. Until then, retailers, farmers and policymakers face a transition period in which decisions are frequently made under time pressure.

Supermarkets under pressure: animal welfare meets the price question

Why do cage eggs remain on supermarket shelves when most chains have announced their withdrawal? In response to enquiries, several retailers point to supply-chain bottlenecks. Demand for barn, free-range and organic eggs has reportedly risen more quickly than production capacity.

Cage-free production is not progressing at the same pace in every region, while egg consumption remains consistently high.

Industry figures put per-capita egg consumption in France at around 237 eggs per year in 2025. This total includes both fresh shell eggs and processed eggs used in food products.

Supermarkets therefore find themselves caught between two pressures. On one side, public demand for better animal welfare is growing. On the other, many customers expect low prices, especially at a time when food costs have generally increased. Cage eggs usually remain the cheapest option on the shelf.

France, Poland, no Ukrainian eggs: where cage eggs originate

One notable finding from the investigation concerns the origin of cage eggs. In 95% of cases, the cage eggs identified came from French production. Only one major chain stood out: Lidl regularly offered imported cage eggs, chiefly from Poland.

The debate over low-cost imports from Eastern Europe therefore also extends to eggs. At the same time, the investigation’s authors stress that they did not find any eggs from Ukraine, an issue made sensitive by the war in Ukraine and debate surrounding agricultural imports.

How to identify cage eggs reliably in the supermarket

Anyone wishing to avoid cage farming does not need to rely on marketing claims. The most reliable clue is printed directly on the egg, rather than solely on the carton. Every egg carries a stamp with a number from 0 to 3.

The shell code and what it means

• 0 – Organic: hens are reared in line with organic standards, have outdoor access and receive organic feed.
• 1 – Free range: hens have access to the outdoors, while space allowances in the housing are more restricted than for organic production.
• 2 – Barn: the birds can move freely inside the shed, but have no outdoor access.
• 3 – Cage farming: hens spend their lives in cages or colony-cage systems.

Avoiding code 3 means avoiding cage farming – regardless of the marketing on the carton.

This code is standardised across the EU. It can therefore be used when shopping on holiday or living near a border. In practical terms, open the carton, take out an egg, read the stamp and, if necessary, choose a different pack.

The blind spot: processed eggs in cakes, pasta and ready meals

One detail that is easily missed in daily life is that around 35% of eggs consumed in France are not bought as shell eggs. Instead, they are used as so-called “egg products” in other foods, including:

• industrially made cakes and biscuits
• fresh and dried pasta
• ready meals and frozen foods
• mayonnaise and some sauces

In these products, the method of production is often not immediately apparent. The ingredients list may simply state “egg”, “whole egg” or “egg powder”. This is precisely where many cage eggs are still used, as they are cheaper for industry.

Those wishing to make their own consumption more animal-friendly can take action here: buy fewer highly processed foods, bake more often at home, or choose brands that explicitly reject cage eggs and label this transparently.

Dispute over the figures: retailers versus animal welfare groups

The dispute does not end at the supermarket shelf. Some retail chains openly question the investigation’s methodology. Carrefour, for example, strongly rejects the findings and criticises Anima’s analysis.

Retail chains and animal welfare organisations are disputing counting methods, samples and definitions – while customers face fully stocked shelves.

Other checks are also taking place in parallel. The French consumer protection authority, DGCCRF, is examining whether labelling is accurate and whether claims made on products match reality. There is also national legislation linked to the so-called EGAlim law, which seeks greater fairness in the agricultural sector.

Europe joins the debate: End the Cage Age and new laws

The discussion around cage eggs is no longer confined to France. At EU level, the citizen initiative “End the Cage Age” is increasing political pressure. It calls for an end to cage farming for numerous livestock species across Europe.

The European Commission is preparing legislative proposals that include rules on the housing of laying hens. Depending on how strict those rules become, supermarkets and producers will need to transform their systems substantially over the coming years. Many businesses face investment choices that will shape them for decades.

What cage farming means in practice

The term “cage farming” may sound abstract, but it describes a highly physical daily reality for millions of animals. Hens live in narrow metal enclosures, often with just a few square decimetres of space each. Modernised “colony cages” may provide perches and nesting areas, but the birds’ freedom of movement remains restricted.

Moving to barn or free-range systems does not resolve every animal welfare issue, but it significantly reduces certain pressures: more movement, more opportunities to withdraw and, in some cases, access to the outdoors. At the same time, disease risks and production costs increase, making shed planning more complex.

Practical strategies for shoppers

Anyone wishing to avoid cage eggs consistently in everyday life can take three steps:

• Always check the code on the shell in the supermarket and leave any packs marked “3” behind.
• For processed foods, favour brands that clearly state “cage-free eggs” or “free-range/organic eggs”.
• Reconsider overall egg consumption: is an egg needed every day, or would less frequent consumption of better-quality eggs be enough?

A realistic example: people who mainly buy cheap cakes, ready-made pizzas and discount pasta are, in many cases, indirectly consuming cage eggs – even if their shopping basket contains only code 0 or 1 eggs from the egg aisle. Small changes to a shopping basket can therefore alter demand throughout the supply chain.

Risks and opportunities for retailers and farming

For supermarkets, this remains a sensitive issue. Leaving cage eggs behind too early risks empty shelves or significant price rises. Responding too late, however, can damage their reputation among a growing group of shoppers who make conscious purchasing choices.

For farmers, conversion brings high costs. New sheds, different feeding arrangements and stricter inspections are only viable if farms receive a fair price over many years. If imported products from countries with lower standards enter the market too cheaply, this model becomes unstable.

At the same time, opportunities are emerging. Higher-value eggs, regional brands and transparent production systems can be marketed more effectively. Producers that move early into free-range or organic farming and deliver reliably can secure long-term contracts with retail chains, making them less dependent on short-term price fluctuations.