Food Lion Must Keep Their Promise to Customers and Animals

As a longtime shopper at Food Lion, I’ve always trusted the brand to provide quality and ethical products. When Ahold Delhaize, Food Lion’s parent company, promised to make the switch to 100% cage-free eggs by 2025, I felt hopeful. But with the deadline looming, it’s clear that Food Lion has failed to live up to its commitment.

The issue with caged egg production isn’t just about the treatment of animals—it also poses serious food safety risks. A recent USDA report revealed that 74% of birds lost to avian flu this year came from caged egg farms, which raises red flags for consumers like me. Furthermore, eggs from caged hens are 25 times more likely to carry salmonella, according to the Center for Food Safety. As a shopper, I want to feel confident that the food I buy is safe for my family, and Food Lion’s inaction has shaken that trust.

For this reason, several customers and I have been protesting outside of their Cockeysville location. We have attempted multiple times to contact Food Lion’s customer service about this issue but have been met with radio silence. Therefore we feel it’s important for the public to know about Food Lion’s utter lack of social responsibility. After all, other major brands like McDonald’s and Amazon have already made the transition to 100% cage-free eggs—why is Food Lion still lagging behind?

It’s not too late for Food Lion to make things right. As a dedicated shopper, I hope they take this opportunity to show their commitment to both animal welfare and food safety. If they don’t, they risk losing the loyalty of the very customers who have supported them for years.