Sinergia Animal launches an investigation into Huevo Feliz farms, revealing cruel practices such as battery cages.
[Buenos Aires, March 11] – International NGO Sinergia Animal has published an exclusive investigation into the farms of the Argentine company Huevo Feliz. While the company’s branding promises “happy eggs”—a term usually associated with free-range or pasture-raised hens—the investigation reveals that the well-known poultry producer keeps its hens in cages, a practice that has been widely criticized for animal cruelty.
The published video shows hundreds of birds crammed into small cages, unable to move freely, walk, or even fully extend their wings. Photos and videos reveal cages containing five or six tightly packed hens, many of which show feather loss. The investigation also documented unhygienic conditions with an accumulation of feces and waste.
“It is misleading for the brand to call itself ‘Huevo Feliz’ when it keeps its hens caged, a practice that causes them intense suffering and frustration. These images debunk the company’s advertising and expose the level of misinformation that Argentine consumers face,” says Romina Viscarret, Director of Sinergia Animal Argentina.
The Risks of an Industry Without Labeling
The terms “happy egg” or “happy hen” are often used in egg industry advertising to describe cage-free or pasture-raised production models, where hens are housed in indoor barns or have access to outdoor areas.
“Experts point out that cage-free and pasture-based systems have higher animal welfare standards. Since we lack regulations requiring producers to label eggs with information about their production system, brands advertise freely without real oversight and without facing penalties for misleading marketing,” says Viscarret.
According to the poultry industry, Argentina has approximately 58 million hens, with 90% living in battery cage farms, despite this system being banned in many countries around the world due to the severe suffering it causes animals.
A study by the Welfare Footprint Project revealed that, on average, at least 275 hours of disabling pain, 2,313 hours of hurtful pain, and 4,645 hours of annoying pain can be prevented per hen when using a cage-free system compared to hens kept in cages throughout their productive cycle.
A Consumer Protection Bill
Sinergia Animal, in collaboration with the Asociación Coordinadora de Usuarios, Consumidores y Contribuyentes (ACUCC), is promoting a bill to implement mandatory labeling on egg cartons in Argentina.
The initiative includes legislation that prohibits misleading advertising, preventing the use of images or terms that do not accurately reflect the actual production system used in poultry farms. It also proposes clear and mandatory labeling specifying whether the eggs come from caged systems, cage-free barns, pasture-raised (free-range) systems, or organic production, and it establishes penalties for non-compliance.
A European Union study has shown a clear demand among consumers for information on animal welfare in food products, and a label or logo would be the most effective way to provide the desired information.
In Argentina, a IPSOS study found that 64% of surveyed Argentines oppose cage egg production to some extent, and 60% support transparency laws that would require suppliers to label egg cartons with information about animal welfare standards and the different production systems used.
“Argentine consumers clearly want and deserve the highest quality standards and clear information about how animals are treated in the industry so they can make informed purchasing decisions,” concludes Viscarret.
Through the website https://www.etiquetadodehuevosya.com/, Sinergia Animal is promoting a petition signed by citizens supporting the bill. To date, the campaign has gathered over 17,000 signatures.
The full investigation into Huevo Feliz is available here.
About Sinergia Animal
Sinergia Animal is an international animal protection organization working in the Global South to reduce the suffering of farmed animals and promote more compassionate food choices.