DENVER (KDVR) — All eggs sold in the state of Colorado will be required to be cage-free when a new law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture said that farmers have been preparing for the changes since 2020. About 40% of eggs produced in the U.S. are already cage-free.
The first part of the law went into effect last year requiring hens to be given more usable space in order for their eggs to be sold in Colorado.
University of Denver supply chain expert Dr. Jack Buffington told the Problem Solvers the law should not cause any major disruptions because most of the supply chain involves egg production using caged birds and illness-causing outbreaks are not an issue at this time.
“I think as long as things remain, you know, relatively healthy, things will be fine, but if there’s any sort of major outbreak then there could be a shortage but we’re not seeing that right now,” said Buffington.
Natural and organic stores are showing support for the law. Natural Grocers, which has never sold eggs from caged hens, provided the following statement to FOX31.
“Although this change doesn’t directly affect our stores or customers, consumers may notice initial price increases at other retailers as they adjust to the new state standard. We’re happy to report that many egg suppliers across the country have already transitioned to cage-free systems and will likely be able to meet demand while keeping prices reasonable. At Natural Grocers, we are proud to have never sold eggs from caged hens in our nearly 70 years of business. We fully support efforts to improve animal welfare and enhance consumer transparency.
As more states pass laws aimed at improving the quality of life and environments for hens, we recognize that it can still be challenging for consumers to understand what the labels and claims on egg cartons really mean. While cage-free has always been our starting point for eggs, we encourage consumers to explore the benefits of free-range and pasture-raised eggs as well. This is the power of shoppers to transform agriculture for the better — simply by choosing better food.”
Natural Grocers
King Soopers told the Problem Solvers the company started transitioning the egg supply to cage-free ahead of time in October to prevent any supply chain issues. Safeway has prepared as well and said the chain does not expect customers to be affected by the changes.
Several other states including California have also passed cage-free laws. Farms and businesses producing or selling eggs must receive an annual audit and state certification before being allowed to sell eggs in Colorado.