McDonald’s billed the move as an attempt to meet changing consumer demands, as well as to protect animal welfare. The company has struggled in recent years as consumers have searched for healthier options and other retailers have sprouted up offering just that.
“Our decision to source only cage-free eggs reinforces the focus we place on food quality and our menu to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations,” said McDonald’s USA President Mike Andres in a press release.
Many large food suppliers, including Costco and General Mills, have announced plans to go cage-free in recent years, but those statements have lacked a specific timeline. Burger King, a key McDonald’s competitor, said earlier this year that it would go cage-free by 2017. Wednesday’s announcement from McDonald’s said that the transition process would occur over the next 10 years.