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INVESTIGATION: Animal Equality Films Inside Brazil’s Egg Farms

This is the public’s first view of the horrific animal cruelty involved in producing eggs from caged hens.
May 3, 2017 Updated: April 24, 2025
Chicken,Bird,Orange,Mammal,Fowl,farmed animal

While Brazil is still reeling from the scandal involving meat industry giants JBS and BRF, Animal Equality has released the first-ever investigation of Brazil’s egg industry, revealing disturbing animal abuse inside the country’s egg factory farms that cage hens. The footage, captured at Yabuta, one of Brazil’s top egg suppliers, documented:

  • Rows and rows of filthy, feces-covered cages stuffed with panicked birds
  • Hens crammed in cages so small the birds can’t even extend their wings
  • Birds with sore, cracked and deformed feet from standing solely on the wire floor
  • Birds’ fragile wings caught in the cage wire as they compete for space
  • Dead hens left to decompose alongside birds still laying eggs for Brazilian consumers

The investigation represents typical conditions at Brazil’s egg factory farms that utilize cages, a confinement system so outdated and cruel that more than 400 food companies worldwide, including, McDonald’s, Habib’s, and Giraffa’s in Brazil, have committed to eliminating them. These commitments are a direct response to consumer demand for better treatment of animals in the food system. Animal Equality is currently campaigning for Grupo Pão de Açúcar, the largest retailer in Brazil, to establish a public commitment to banning cages for all their brands and affiliates, with a clear deadline for implementation. Consumers can help by signing the petition here. Of course, the best way to help birds is to avoid eggs altogether. Try these easy egg replacers now.


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