Nestle uses approximately 20 million lbs of eggs each year to manufacture such products as Nestle Toll House cookie dough and Lean Cuisine frozen breakfast items.

WASHINGTON — Nestle USA has announced it will transition to using only cage-free eggs in all of its U.S. food products by 2020. The company said it uses approximately 20 million lbs of eggs each year to manufacture such products as Häagen-Dazs, Dreyer’s and Edy’s ice creams; Nestle Toll House cookie dough; Buitoni pasta; and Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s frozen breakfast items.

Paul Grimwood, chairman and c.e.o. of Nestle USA

“Our products are in the fridges and pantries of socially-conscious consumers across the United States, and we share their belief in the importance of responsibly sourced ingredients,” said Paul Grimwood, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestle USA. “The move to using exclusively cage-free eggs is one more way that we’re responding to consumers and establishing a precedent for farm animal welfare.”

As part of Nestle’s broader commitment on farm animal welfare, which it launched in 2012, the company has pledged to eliminate certain farming practices, including tail docking for cattle and pigs, gestation crates for pigs and veal crates. Nestle has partnered with World Animal Protection, a global animal welfare organization, to evaluate its suppliers against these criteria.

Martin Cooke of World Animal Protection

“We are proud to partner with Nestle, who are listening to their customers’ concerns and putting animal welfare at the forefront of their purchasing power,” said Martin Cooke of World Animal Protection. “They are taking a responsible approach to their sourcing of eggs, which will ultimately improve the lives of millions of hens. Major food companies like Nestle have the power to bring about positive change at every level of the supply chain.”

Nestle also is working with World Animal Protection and its suppliers to establish a roadmap for sourcing cage-free eggs in Europe and other parts of the world.