INVESTING IN ANIMAL ABUSE

Ahold Delhaize continues to sell meat and eggs from animals trapped in filthy cages, while
Columbia Threadneedle remains a major investor.

images representative of a typical battery cage facility

There’s nothing “smart” about investing in cruelty.

Ahold Delhaize – the parent company of grocery chains including Hannaford, Giant, Stop & Shop, and Food Lion – promised for nearly a decade that they would end cages for hens and mother pigs by 2025. They’ve since broken that promise.

Undercover footage has shown extreme suffering in their supply chain – yet they are still refusing to take meaningful action.

images representative of a typical battery cage facility

BATTERY CAGE BANS In the U.S.

The following states have passed legislation that either bans or requires the phasing-out of battery cages:

Arizona

California

Colorado

Massachusetts

Michigan

Nevada

Ohio

Oregon

Rhode Island

Utah

Washington

Arizona California Colorado Massachusetts Michigan Nevada Ohio Oregon Rhode Island Utah Washington

THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT BATTERY CAGE EGGS

  • Hens in cages suffer from limited space and restricted movement, which prevents them from engaging in natural behaviors and leads to high stress and frustration. Studies also indicate that caged hens have higher rates of Salmonella, a leading cause of foodborne illness and are more prone to disease than hens in systems that allow for greater mobility and expression of natural behaviors.

  • Each hen in a battery cage is given only 67-86 square inches of space—less than the size of a sheet of paper—leaving them unable to spread their wings or move naturally.

  • Caged hens are unable to perch, nest, dust-bathe, or forage, causing severe psychological distress and unnatural, repetitive stress behaviors.

  • Wire cage floors cause painful foot disorders, overgrown claws, and open lesions, while sloped designs lead to chronic discomfort and injuries.

  • Battery cages deny hens their natural behaviors, such as scratching, nesting, and foraging, leading to chronic stress, frustration, and harmful repetitive behaviors.

  • To maximize egg production, hens undergo forced molting by withholding food and water, causing severe stress, feather loss, and long-term health issues, including paralysis and death from dehydration.

  • Hens are subjected to constant artificial light to extend egg-laying periods, disrupting their natural cycles and contributing to bone fragility and overall poor health.

  • While the EU banned battery cages in 2012, Ahold Delhaize, has pushed the cage-free egg deadline from 2025 to 2032, allowing millions of hens in the U.S. to continue suffering for years to come.

Globally Connected to Animal Abuse

WHY IT MATTERS

FOR INVESTORS.

  • Columbia Threadneedle claims to prioritize responsible investing and acknowledges that ESG considerations are critical to promoting long-term growth.

  • Ahold Delhaize’s broken commitments are more than an ethical failure - they’re a business risk. Companies that backtrack on ESG are under increased scrutiny from regulators, consumers, and the media. Ahold Delhaize’s animal welfare failures damage brand trust and erode shareholder confidence. 

  • If Ahold Delhaize can’t even follow through on its most basic, longest-standing animal welfare pledges, why should investors trust the company to implement broader ESG goals?