The Five Freedoms Ignored:
J. Co
Cruelty exposed
This photo is representative of the standard industrial farming practices permitted in the company’s supply chain.Photo: Stefano Belacchi / Animal Welfare Observatory / We Animals
These are among the Five Freedoms that define humane treatment for farm animals – standards supported by more than 90% of the public.
These freedoms represent what consumers expect from food companies, and while many leading food manufacturers have put policies in place to uphold the Five Freedoms in their supply chain, J. Co continues to disregard these ethical benchmarks, serving food sourced from farms where animals endure unimaginable suffering.
From hens trapped in small cages for their entire lives, unable to spread their wings or engage in natural behaviors, to birds suffering from weakened bones and chronic pain due to extreme confinement, J. Co is allowing brutal mistreatment in order to save a few pennies per meal.
These inhumane practices can contribute directly to serious health risks for consumers.
Caged egg production is associated with a higher prevalence of Salmonella contamination, as the cramped and unsanitary conditions create a breeding ground for bacteria. The stress and weakened immune systems of caged hens further increase the risk of disease transmission.
In addition, caged egg farms often rely on excessive antibiotic use to manage infections caused by the unhygienic environment, contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can spread to humans.
By continuing to allow the use of caged eggs in its supply chain, J. Co not only perpetuates animal suffering but also exposes consumers to unnecessary health risks.
It’s time for J. Co to put policies in place that end these cruel and unsafe practices and ensure the Five Freedoms for Animals.
Behind the eggs served by J. Co lies a grim reality of suffering.
Hens are crammed into tiny, barren battery cages so restrictive that the birds can’t spread their wings, turn around, or exhibit any of their natural behaviors. These sentient animals are reduced to mere egg-laying machines, enduring a lifetime of misery standing on wire floors that can cut into their feet and leave their bodies bruised and featherless. Packed so tightly, hens often injure each other out of stress and frustration.
Even the basics of life are denied. With no access to dust bathing, perches, or fresh air, these intelligent and curious animals are trapped in a world devoid of stimulation and comfort.
The stress and overcrowding can lead to severe health issues, including brittle bones that fracture easily and uterine prolapse from the relentless egg production. Many hens die in their cages, their decomposing bodies left among the living until workers remove them.
In this system, nearly every one of the Five Freedoms is breached: hens are denied freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury, and disease, freedom to express normal behavior, and freedom from fear and distress.
Yet J. Co permits its suppliers to continue using these barbaric systems.
Espresso House has the power and responsibility to stop permitting these extreme cruelties in its supply chain. The public expects better, and animals deserve to live free from this egregious and unnecessary suffering.
It’s time for Espresso House to do what many other leading food companies have already done and put policies in place that ensure the Five Freedoms for animals in its supply chain.
