This weekend, Animal Justice is releasing EggSCANada, a free app that lets shoppers scan egg cartons to instantly see whether hens were confined in cages, with launch events scheduled in seven cities across Canada: Edmonton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, St. John’s, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
While EggSCANada is designed to work on cartons of eggs sold at any Canadian retailer, the initial launch is focused on Sobeys, and its other brands such as Safeway, IGA and Farm Boy.
That’s because ten years after Sobeys pledged to go 100% cage-free by 2025, around 80% of the eggs it sells still come from hens confined in cages. Cartons often use terms like Cozy Coop and Nestlaid, which do not clearly indicate how hens are kept.
EggSCANada answers the question that packaging doesn’t: Do these eggs come from hens confined in cramped cages?
“Sobeys made a clear promise to Canadians. It has not been delivered,” said PJ Nyman, corporate engagement manager at Animal Justice. “Most of the eggs it sells still come from caged hens. EggSCANada puts that information directly in shoppers’ hands, right at the point of purchase.”
That’s important because Canada is falling behind. In 2025, just 20% of eggs produced in Canada were cage-free, compared to 79% in the UK, 62% in the EU and 45% in the US. Earlier this year, an undercover investigation at a major Sobeys supplier showed hens confined in cages stacked five rows high, with around 20 birds per cage.
EggSCANada is a multiplatform web-based application that can be instantly launched on any mobile device using this link.
Launch event details (all times local)
Edmonton — Westmount Safeway
Sat./Sun. March 28 & 29, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
London — Sobeys, 661 Wonderland Rd N
Sat. March 28, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Montreal — IGA Complexe Desjardins
Sat./Sun. March 28 & 29, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
Ottawa — Farm Boy, 193 Metcalfe St
Sat. March 28, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
St. John’s — Sobeys, 10 Elizabeth Ave
Sun. March 29, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Vancouver — Safeway, 1780 E Broadway
Sat. March 28, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Winnipeg — Sobeys, 1150 Taylor Ave
Sat. March 28, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
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