Image representative of typical battery cage farm
What is the problem?
Target is neglecting concerns of animal cruelty. The company is falling behind the food industry by continuing to sell eggs from caged hens. Despite stakeholder concerns, Target continues to support controversial battery cage farms where chickens are confined in cages so small that they can barely move with no plan to phase them out. This practice is so unsafe and inhumane that it is illegal in many U.S. states and the entire European Union.
When confronted with these concerns, Target director George Barrett has remained silent.
Who is George Barrett?
George is a longtime healthcare industry executive. He is currently the founder of The Overtone Group and previously served as Chairman & CEO of Cardinal Health. He is an adjunct professor with Columbia University and visiting professor at New York University. George also serves on the boards of The Conference Board, Digital Diagnostics, and Resilience. In 2017, the Teamsters sought to oust him from Cardinal Health following the company’s alleged contributions to the opioid crisis.
Now, George faces a different type of scrutiny: ignoring concerns of animal cruelty.
Can customers trust Target to do the right thing?
Target has historically enjoyed a positive reputation for its commitments to sustainability, social responsibility, and transparency. Now, the company has a concerning track record of weakening or backtracking on animal welfare policies. The company is even falling behind U.S. fast food chains such as McDonald’s and Taco Bell that have eliminated battery cage eggs from their menus. Retail giant Costco is nearly 100 percent cage-free and even dollar stores are installing signs on their egg shelves to educate customers and help shift the market toward cage-free eggs.