What is behind the “Goodbye to Code 3” signs on supermarket egg shelves?

This week, egg shelves in supermarkets across Spain have come alive with signs warning: “Don’t buy these eggs, say goodbye to code 3.” This initiative is part of the campaign from the Animal Welfare Observatory (AWO), which aims to raise awareness about the extreme suffering that caged hens experience.

Hens destined for the production of “code 3 eggs” live in terrible conditions, in spaces so small that they can barely move, limiting their ability to engage in essential behaviors such as stretching, flapping, scratching the ground, or turning around. In this context, AWO promotes the "Goodbye to Code 3" campaign, aligned with the European initiative “End the Cage Age.”

According to the 2023 Eurobarometer, 96% of Spanish consumers believe it is essential for farm animals to have enough space to move. However, as we move into 2025, few supermarkets have fulfilled their commitment to stop selling eggs from caged hens this year.

While progress has been made in reducing the use of cages, which has decreased from 93% in 2016 to 67% in 2024, according to the Report on the Transition of Companies to Cage-Free Systems, there is still much to be done. In 2023, national production of cage-free eggs reached over 390 million dozen.

The consumption of 'cage-free' eggs in Spanish households now accounts for 34.5% of the total volume, with the growth of code 2 standing out, having doubled its share in the last four years. This demonstrates the growing interest in animal welfare. However, supermarkets must intensify their efforts.

The "Goodbye to Code 3" campaign invites consumers to demand that their trusted supermarkets guarantee a change in the living conditions of hens and be transparent about it. At AWO, we continue to negotiate with supermarket chains to ensure they fulfill their promises to eliminate the sale of eggs from caged hens.

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