Malaysia seeks to emulate China’s national cage-free egg policy

Cage-free eggs laid by hens living in open indoor spaces often come at a premium, but have rarely been a priority for consumers in price-sensitive markets such as Malaysia. However, new research data has revealed that the majority of Malaysian consumers believe that egg supply chains need to adhere to certain standards, even if not quite as many would be willing to pay that premium. Furthermore, food manufacturers and retailers in the local industry are keen to make the switch in favour of meeting ESG commitments. “A new survey conducted with GMO Research has found that an overwhelming 83% of Malaysian consumers believe that food companies should source their eggs from a supply chain that adheres to [suitable] standards],” ​Lever Foundation Sustainability Program Manager Vilosha Sivaraman said. “In addition, over 60% of consumers are willing to pay more for these cage-free eggs if they are slightly more expensive than traditional caged eggs – and almost 60% also said they would be ...