Mondelez now uses cage free eggs in Toblerone

The chocolate giant’s Toblerone brand has been produced in Switzerland since 1868 and all available products across the globe now contain cage free eggs.

FOUR PAWS said Mondelez’s pledge marks a significant shift within industry and plugs consumer demands.

Gabriel Paun, director of campaigns at FOUR PAWS, said that a commitment from such a large company is important in the push towards wider change.

“It’s a great thing because it’s a global brand. Of course you can’t change everything at the same time but this is a big step because it’s a big company,”​ Paun told ConfectioneryNews.com.

“This is the sweetest news since our egg campaign convinced Ferrero to go cage free earlier this year.”​

Ferrero pledged to use eggs laid from barn keeping systems in the short-term, with a long-term vision to source its eggs from free range systems. 

A majority of Ferrero's products use cage free eggs and it is anticipated that this will be across all products by 2014.

EU ban on caged hens​

Earlier this year the EU implemented a ban on conventional battery cages for hens; a move The Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries (CAOBISCO) called out as a catalyst for egg shortages and rocketing prices.

However, FOUR PAWS, said that there are still hens being kept in “illegal conditions”​ and that these eggs are being primarily used in processed foods and not described on labels.

“Lack of law enforcement and incomplete labeling makes processed food the dumping ground for cage eggs. The EU Commission could accomplish great results by expanding the existing labeling system for fresh eggs to the processed foods as well,”​ Paun said.

FOUR PAWS commissioned a survey in 2011 that found the majority of European citizens would like eggs used in processed foods to be labeled so that they can choose products containing cage free eggs.