Federal appeals court rejects egg-labeling lawsuit

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal appeals court has rejected a lawsuit that sought to require labels on egg cartons indicating the conditions in which the chickens were raised.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday ruled that several federal agencies had acted reasonably in rejecting the labeling regulations.

The plaintiffs — two animal advocacy groups and six egg consumers — wanted the cartons to bear the terms “Free-Range Eggs,” ”Cage-Free Eggs” or “Eggs from Caged Hens.”

They argued that eggs from caged hens are nutritionally inferior and carry a greater risk of Salmonella contamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said evidence for those claims was not persuasive.

Cheryl Leahy, general counsel for one of the animal advocacy groups, said the group would continue fighting against misleading egg carton claims and images.