by Rachel McRady: Brad Pitt is known for his humanitarian work, and now the Oscar winner is lending his voice to a new cause: ending the horrible living conditions of caged hens.
Pitt has penned a letter to Costco CEO, Craig Jelinek, urging the company to stop selling eggs from caged hens, CBS reports.
In his note, Angelina Jolie’s husband writes, “As you know, these birds producing eggs for your shelves are crammed five or more into cages that are not large enough for even one hen to spread her wings.”
He also highlights the fact that caged birds tend to suffer from atrophy of their muscles and bones after years of being stuck inside the confined spaces.
“In short, cramming hens into cages for their entire lives constitutes cruelty to animals, and animals deserve better,” Pitt continued. “As you know, many major corporations, from Burger King to Unilever, are getting rid of cages — and Whole Foods hasn’t sold eggs from caged hens in years. I admire Costco’s many positive social commitments. You’ve shown great courage and integrity on a range of issues. Won’t you please extend that sensibility — and basic decency — to chickens?”
Pitt’s plea joins that of talk show host Bill Maher, who wrote an editorial published by The New York Times on the same subject. Both stars are speaking on behalf of the Farm Sanctuary, an organization which advocates on behalf of animals used in factory farming.
In June, Costco released a statement saying that it is “committed to the ethical treatment of animals,” but also noting that there’s a debate as to whether cage-free environments are really better for hens.