Eggland’s Best asks judge to dismiss cage-free eggs class action

Update:

• Eggland’s Best asked a Illinois federal judge to dismiss a class action alleging it misleadingly labels its cage-free eggs.
• The company says the eggs meet cage-free standards and come from hens that live primarily indoors.
• In the class action lawsuit, l​Lead plaintiffs Tim Janecyk and Eric Wilim claim they purchased Eggland’s Best Cage Free eggs at a premium because of labeling that says, “every hen selected to lay Eggland’s Best Cage Free eggs is free to roam in a pleasant, natural environment.”
• However, Eggland’s says the labeling is mere puffery that no reasonable consumer would rely on.
• “Eggland’s statements that the hens are ‘free to roam’ and have a ‘pleasant, natural environment’ are vague, generalized and subject to multiple interpreta!ons,” the company says.

Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiffs Tim Janecyk and Eric Wilim filed a class action lawsuit against Eggland’s Best Inc. and Eggland’s Best LLC.
• Why: They allege Eggland’s Best says its “cage free” eggs are produced by chickens free to roam outdoors when they actually live in industrial compounds with no outdoor access.
• Where: The Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

(July 29, 2024)

A new Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit alleges the egg producer misleads consumers about the “cage free” eggs it sells.

Plaintiffs Tim Janecyk and Eric Wilim are consumers who care about animal welfare, according to the Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit. 

Before purchasing Eggland’s Best Cage Free Eggs, they say they read the following statement on the packaging: “Every hen selected to lay Eggland’s Best Cage Free eggs is free to roam in a pleasant, natural environment.”

Janecyk and Wilim assert they interpreted this statement to mean the hens all had access to the outdoors, plenty of space to forage in grass and are treated humanely. Like many consumers, they were willing to pay a premium for eggs produced by hens in a pleasant and natural environment, according to the Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit.

They note “cage free” eggs are sold at prices of about 7% higher than conventional eggs, and some of Eggland’s Best eggs sell at a 25% premium over its large conventional eggs.

Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit says hens not raised in humane conditions

The Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit says the hens producing “cage free” eggs are not actually “free to roam in a pleasant, natural environment.” The plaintiffs allege most, if not all, of the hens live in large industrial egg-laying compounds without outdoor access.

The plaintiffs allege that the facilities are designed to prevent hens from any exposure to the outside world.

“They live in windowless rooms made of concrete, metal and dirt,” the Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit alleges. “They breathe filtered air, they do not see the sun and they have no access to grass or other natural vegetation.”

Hundreds of thousands of hens are allegedly crammed into a single building, and the chickens each have up to one square foot of space, which the plaintiffs say creates a “highly unpleasant” environment for hens.

Janecyk and Wilim say Eggland’s Best knowingly misrepresented the living conditions so it could overcharge consumers for eggs they believed were produced in humane conditions.

The Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and unjust enrichment.

An Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit filed earlier this year alleges the company falsely advertises its eggs have less saturated fat than regular eggs.

Are you willing to pay a premium for “cage free” eggs? Tell us your thoughts on the Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Douglas M. Werman and John J. Frawley of Werman Salas PC and Pete Winebrake and Michelle Tolodziecki of Winebrake & Santillo LLC.

The Eggland’s Best class action lawsuit is Tim Janecyk, et al. v. Eggland’s Best Inc., et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-06222, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Judge trims claims in Fresca false advertising class action
• Target class action claims avocado oil not 100% pure as advertised
• Beverage brands involved in class actions, recalls, settlement
• Hannaford announces recall for fresh salads, pastas due to potential listeria contamination