Australian Retailer Coles Pushes Back Cage-Free Egg Deadline to 2030 Amid Supply Woes, Mirroring U.S. Bird Flu Struggles
By U.S. News Correspondent
Sydney, Australia – September 5, 2025
In a move that highlights the ongoing tensions between animal welfare goals and agricultural realities, Australian supermarket chain Coles has delayed its planned phase-out of caged eggs until 2030, citing severe disruptions from avian influenza outbreaks. The decision comes as the U.S. grapples with similar bird flu challenges that have driven egg prices to record highs, raising questions about the feasibility of ambitious cage-free transitions on both sides of the Pacific.
Coles, one of Australia’s largest grocery retailers, originally pledged in the mid-2010s to eliminate caged eggs from its shelves by the end of 2025, aligning with a broader industry shift toward more humane farming practices. However, the company announced this week that it would extend the deadline for its branded shell eggs to 2030, pausing the transition to ensure a stable supply for customers amid ongoing shortages.
The primary culprit? A devastating series of bird flu outbreaks that have ravaged Australia’s poultry industry over the past 18 months. According to industry reports, approximately 1.8 million egg-laying hens—representing about 10% of the nation’s flock—were culled or died from the H7 strain of avian influenza in 2024 alone. This led to a 7% drop in national egg production, empty supermarket shelves, and temporary purchase limits on egg cartons to prevent hoarding. Coles emphasized that the delay is necessary to support the industry’s fragile recovery, noting that caged eggs still account for 31% of all egg sales in Australia and play a key role in keeping prices affordable during crises.
“Australians consume over 18 million eggs daily, and without caged production, we simply wouldn’t have enough to meet demand right now,” a Coles spokesperson told local media, underscoring the economic pressures exacerbated by the cost-of-living surge. Free-range egg prices have risen 25% since 2010, even as demand for ethical alternatives grows.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from animal welfare advocates. Dr. Jed Goodfellow of the Australian Alliance for Animals called the delay “disappointing and shortsighted,” arguing that it prolongs the suffering of hens confined in battery cages, where they cannot exhibit natural behaviors like nesting or perching. “This backflip not only compounds animal cruelty but also hurts consumers by inflating prices and creating uncertainty for producers,” Goodfellow said, urging an accelerated transition instead.
On the other side, egg producers and industry groups have welcomed the reprieve, viewing caged systems—introduced about 50 years ago—as a practical solution to protect hens from diseases, predators, and weather while maintaining low mortality rates. Australian Eggs, an industry advocacy body, has echoed this, stating that rushing the phase-out could worsen shortages and drive up costs further.
Coles’ decision aligns with a national government agreement to ban battery cages entirely by 2036, though some states like the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia have already implemented bans, and Victoria will block new cage constructions starting in 2025. Competitors Woolworths and Aldi, which also committed to cage-free by 2025, have not yet indicated if they will follow suit, though Woolworths phased out its own-brand caged eggs in 2015.
Echoes in the U.S. Market
The situation Down Under resonates strongly in the United States, where 2025 marks a pivotal year for cage-free commitments. Eleven states, including California, Colorado, and Massachusetts, have enacted laws mandating cage-free eggs by year’s end, banning the sale of eggs from hens in battery cages. Major U.S. retailers and food companies, from Walmart to McDonald’s, have pledged to go 100% cage-free by 2025, driven by consumer demand and advocacy from groups like the ASPCA and Humane Society.
However, bird flu has posed similar hurdles stateside. The U.S. has seen outbreaks cull tens of millions of birds since 2022, contributing to egg prices surging over 50% at times and sparking debates over whether cage-free mandates are partly to blame. Critics, including some economists, argue that transitioning to cage-free systems increases production costs and vulnerability to diseases, potentially leading to higher consumer prices— a concern echoed in Coles’ rationale.
“While the U.S. is ahead in some state-level bans, the Australian delay serves as a cautionary tale,” said Brian Earnest, a senior analyst at the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Supply chain resilience must balance with welfare reforms, especially as global avian flu threats persist.”
Federal regulations in the U.S., such as the FDA’s Egg Safety Rule, focus on preventing salmonella but do not mandate cage-free housing, leaving much to state initiatives and corporate pledges. As of mid-2025, about 40% of U.S. laying hens are in cage-free systems, up from 10% a decade ago, according to the United Egg Producers.
Animal rights organizations in the U.S. are monitoring the Coles development closely. “Delays anywhere undermine global progress,” said Kitty Block, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “We urge companies worldwide to stick to their commitments, as consumers increasingly demand ethical sourcing.”
As both nations navigate these challenges, the Coles delay underscores the complex interplay of health crises, economics, and ethics in modern food production. For American consumers, it may signal potential bumps ahead in the push for a cage-free future.