Organic Consumers Association Takes Legal Action Against Eggland's Best Eggs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Organic Consumers Association and Richman Law & Policy filed a complaint against Eggland's Best on March 14 in the District of Columbia Superior Court. The complaint alleges that Eggland's Best, in violation of the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act, deceptively markets its eggs with claims concerning packaging recyclability, animal welfare and nutritional superiority.

Eggland's Best, the complaint alleges, misleads consumers by marketing its eggs as:

• Delivered "in the most environment-friendly way" in polystyrene cartons that are "recyclable" and accepted by "more and more communities … in their recycling programs."
• Coming from caged hens that are "always handled … humanely" and have space "adequate for normal function and behavior."
• Providing "Superior Nutrition" including that the eggs contain fewer calories, and less cholesterol and total fat, than "ordinary eggs."

Contrary to Eggland's Best's claims that its eggs are superior to "ordinary eggs" in environmental sustainability, animal welfare and nutrition, Organic Consumers Association alleges that Eggland's Best eggs are:

• Packaged in polystyrene that is not "environmentally friendly" or generally recyclable;
• Produced by hens raised under inhumane conditions that do not allow them to exhibit normal function or behavior; and
• Not nutritionally superior to other eggs.
  

View the complaint here.