Subway Faces Nationwide Consumer Pressure to Follow Through on Cage-Free Eggs
MIAMI, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly a decade after Subway pledged to source 100% cage-free eggs in its supply chains by the end of 2025, one of the world’s largest fast food chains has gone silent. In response, The Humane League, a global nonprofit working to end the abuse of animals raised for food, launches a national campaign against Subway, urging the company to break its silence, report progress, and provide a roadmap for fulfilling its public commitment to remove cruel battery cages.
In 2015, Subway committed to source 100% cage-free eggs across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by the end of 2025. The last available update came in 2020, when the company reported that only 27% of its egg supply in North America was cage-free. Since then, Subway has failed to provide any public progress or plan, despite claiming on its website that it is “on track.”
The company was recently called out for its lack of transparency and progress in The Humane League’s Cage-Free Eggsposé, an annual report evaluating major restaurant brands and convenience stores on their cage-free transition. Subway’s inaction contrasts with its industry peers: McDonald’s, Starbucks, KFC, Taco Bell, and Tim Hortons have all fulfilled or are actively reporting progress toward their cage-free goals. Other companies under scrutiny in the report include Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, Bojangles, Crumbl, Bob Evans, and Circle K.
“Subway made a promise to its customers, its franchisees, and to the nearly 300,000 egg-laying hens in its supply chain,” said Anna Peer, Senior Campaigns Lead for The Humane League. “That promise is now in jeopardy, and the lack of transparency is unacceptable for a company of this size.”
Battery cages, still used throughout Subway’s supply chain, are linked to extreme animal suffering and public health threats. According to the USDA, 64% of the 30 million birds killed as a result of avian flu in 2025 were housed in cages while only 36% came from cage-free systems. While Subway claims they are on track in North America “subject to market availability,” the U.S. egg industry reports no supply shortage. Nearly 70% of producers added cage-free housing in 2024 and most expect continued supply through 2026.
With more than 20,000 U.S. locations, Subway’s failure to act has widespread consequences. The Humane League is launching targeted actions in Subway’s headquarters cities and franchise locations, alongside nationwide protests and digital campaigns, amplifying growing consumer frustration over its lack of transparency and cage-free progress. Escalating actions and public tactics, including a poster campaign featuring Interim CEO Carrie Walsh in Subway’s headquarter city of Miami, FL, will continue as Subway continues keeping hens in cages and consumers in the dark. Subway executives are encouraged to contact corporaterelations@thehumaneleague.org to plan and execute successful cage-free transitions.
To take action and learn more about the campaign, visit SubwayScandal.com. Join The Humane League’s Fast Action Network to help drive meaningful change for farm animals from your phone or laptop.
About The Humane League
The Humane League is a global animal protection nonprofit that exists to end the abuse of animals raised for food. Since its founding in 2005, The Humane League has focused on effectively ending the worst abuses in animal agriculture, securing strong animal welfare commitments from major foodservice providers, restaurants, food manufacturers, and hospitality leaders around the world, changing the lives of billions of farm animals suffering every day.
Contact:
Karen Hirsch
678-469-8574
SOURCE The Humane League
