Years later, I became more interested in food—where it comes from, how it is produced. I learned about the appalling living conditions egg-laying hens live day-to-day, how they suffer to produce millions of eggs every year. This knowledge transformed my understanding of the true cost of cheap food.

Most people in the U.S. don’t know where their food comes from, or how eggs are produced, but they overwhelmingly support policies that protect chickens from the cruel efficiency of industrial farming. Over the last couple of decades, we have seen the egg industry transition away from the inhumane practice of caged egg farming to cage-free and pasture-raised egg production. Forty percent of eggs now come from cage-free hens—up from just 16% a decade ago. Despite this progress, many state WIC programs are not keeping up pace with this change.

Compassionate Food is Food Justice

At Compassion in World Farming USA, we believe that addressing food inequality goes hand-in-hand with promoting more humane farming practices. Fighting for a world without cages is not just about animals, it is about creating a food system that is more equitable and sustainable for everyone. Every meal is an opportunity for compassion. Working together, we can create a future where more ethically produced food is accessible to all, regardless of income.

Giving low-income families access to the same higher-welfare food choices that are available to non-WIC shoppers helps to provide participants with the same dignity, respect, and status afforded to all.

According to a 2022 Harvard study, 80% of Americans would prefer to buy eggs from chickens who have not been kept in cages. We can better serve the needs of the WIC community by allowing for the purchase of cage-free eggs in more states while ensuring that families, regardless of income, can make food choices that align with their values.