Victory: BOCA to Stop Using Eggs by End of 2009

Two weeks ago, we announced on the care2 causes blog that BOCA was considering going egg-free. Activists from Compassion Over Killing, Mercy for Animals, and the Animal Protection & Rescue League teamed up to run a shock-and-awe campaign of phone calls, emails, and letters. They mobilized thousands of people who buy BOCA products to call the office and ask the company to stop using eggs altogether. And it worked! BOCA has made the compassionate decision. By the end of 2009 BOCA will no longer use any eggs in their products.

This victory comes less than two months after boca-egg-facts.com was launched. On March 19, 2009 a company representative emailed Compassion Over Killing:

“…I am pleased to let you know the BOCA brand will be eliminating eggs in all of its products by the end of this year. We anticipate all BOCA products will be egg free in 2010.”

By removing eggs from their ingredient list, BOCA is withdrawing financial support for factory farms that use battery-cages. They are striking a blow against the cruel egg industry. Whether or not you choose to eat eggs, this is a major victory for animals. This brings us one step closer to ending intense confinement of hens in factory farms.

Battery-cages are truly one of the cruelest form of intense industrial animal agriculture. Somewhere around 95% of eggs produced in the the United States come from hens who confined inside these barren wire cages. Hens are usually afforded only 67 square inches, that’s less than the size of a sheet of paper. The birds can barely move, cannot spread their wings, walk, or dust-bathe. They can’t do anything that natural to them. The cages are filthy and dead birds are often left in the cages for days.

Based on the ingredient listings online, it looks like this means that of the 14 items made with egg, 10 will now be vegan.

Please contact the company to thank them! Why not send them a care2 e-card? You can email them at boca@casupport.com. For more information about the horrors of egg factory farms, visit: EggIndustry.com.

Read more: animal welfare

photo cred: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grendelkhan/1752671889/ via creativecommons.org

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Suzy E.

5:24PM PDT on Aug 12, 2009

good news, thanks BOCA, McDonalds take note

send a green star

11:54AM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

plants* (LOL)

11:53AM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

@ David J:

I agree with you - I never understand why people are always arguing on Care2 forums and at each other on "good news" posts like this one.

Isn't this site supposed to be for people of like-mind and heart to come together to make a difference and support each other in the process? I have yet to see that kind of support here. (If you have, please let me know where to look.) It's always "You can do better" from the abolitionist movement and then there's the "Vegans kill pants" and "Don't make me change my ways - we NEED MEAT" attitude from the meat-defenders group...why would meat-eaters be responding to vegetarian posts anyway? That right there tells me they are just feeling threatened by the whole concept itself. The abolitionists will stand for nothing less than 100% animal rights...with no exceptions. And everyone else is somewhere in between. It's like politics only with food and animals.

So it doesn't seem to matter if you are a person of integrity doing the best they can and making some sort of difference in this world, no matter what kind of difference you are making. Some will always be there to try to tear you down - the best wisdom here is to keep doing the best you can because you CAN, and encourage others to do the same.

I've met some lovely people on this site, though they are few, I won't stop sharing and supporting others because of a few rotten apples ;) I hope you'll continue to do the same too.

Bless your heart and thanks for the soa

11:33AM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

Great news, and it's about time!

We stopped using BOCA products when we realized they weren't vegan, and switched over to Gardenburger brand because most of their products are vegan, and say it right on the package. We had to learn how to really scrutinize labels in the process though. Some lessons come the hard way, unfortunately, but we've been very happy with changing to a better company and giving them our business instead of supporting a lesser ethic.

I'm glad to see Boca finally beginning to wake up and eliminate the dairy from their products. Now maybe Morningstar will stop the GMO crap? You never know...maybe that's next.

Many thanks to everyone who petitioned and acted on getting Boca to make this transition. It's a true blessing when you hear news like this!

Cary E.

3:54PM PDT on Mar 26, 2009

Great news! Let's continue to support other efforts of thios kind!
Yes! YES! YES!

Sir Walk F.

7:37PM PDT on Mar 25, 2009

"
"Great news. What's next ? Can we do something more meaningful and effective?""

You could stop buying highly processed, packaged "food" products from massive, multi-national corporations who support the kinds of factory-farming methods you claim to hate.

I fail to see the big deal about BOCA not using eggs. The "burgers" are still full of GMO soy and highly processed "food product", and your money still ends up in the pockets of those who harm animals.

If you dont want to support Factory Farming methods, buy local food from farmers you know and trust. not packaged garbage from a massive company.

Past Member .

3:58PM PDT on Mar 25, 2009

Its about time.

Merthyr S.

6:18AM PDT on Mar 25, 2009

Hi Drew, and congrats on a brilliant, eye-opening article; thanks too to BOCA for their decision!! We don't have BOCA in the UK, so I haven't been directly involved in this specific campaign, but I'm dead against ANY factory farming of animals in ANY country including my own, an incredibly cruel and abhorrent industry, and its continued global licence makes me murderously angry!! I can only salute all of you who have made a difference in this case. May successes go from strength to strength!!

Justine L.

3:08PM PDT on Mar 24, 2009

As an animal lover & vegetarian this makes me happy. Recently I have heard more and more about egg farm cruelty, & it's really sad. Which of Boca's products do contain eggs?

David J.

6:22AM PDT on Mar 24, 2009

What the hell is wrong with people?

More than half of the posts on sites like this are pissing and moaning or bitter arguing from one member to another.

Here is the ideal response to a good news item like this one:

"Great news. What's next ? Can we do something more meaningful and effective?"

The rest of the tripe between us all is a big waste of energy that could be directed to GOOD EFFORTS!!!

Thanks for the soap-box. I gotta go now.