Giant Food Must Follow Through on Its Cage-Free Commitment

Giant Food has been a part of my weekly routine for years, so when its parent company, Ahold Delhaize, promised to switch to 100% cage-free eggs by 2025, I expected it to follow through. But with that deadline now here, Giant has yet to keep its word.

Caged egg production isn’t just an animal welfare issue—it’s a food safety risk. The USDA recently reported that 74% of birds lost to avian flu this year came from caged egg farms. Meanwhile, the Center for Food Safety warns that eggs from caged hens are 25 times more likely to carry salmonella. As a customer, I want to trust that the food I’m buying is safe for my family, but Giant’s broken promise raises concerns.

That’s why I joined other D.C. residents at a protest outside Giant Food last weekend. With Ahold Delhaize now headquartered in Washington, D.C., the company has an even greater responsibility to be a leader in corporate accountability. Other major brands like McDonald’s and Amazon have already made the switch—why is Giant Food falling behind?

Giant still has a chance to do the right thing. As a loyal shopper, I hope it does—before it loses the trust of the customers who keep it in business.