OFFICIAL CORRECTION-UPDATE 1-Taco Bell to switch to cage-free eggs after 2016, ahead of rivals

(In first paragraph, company corrects switch date to Dec. 31,
2016, not Jan. 1, 2017)
By Lisa Baertlein
LOS ANGELES, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Taco Bell said on Monday its
more than 6,000 U.S. fast-food restaurants would stop using eggs
laid by caged hens by Dec. 31, 2016, years ahead of the
deadlines set by its bigger rivals.
The announcement came amid mounting pressure on Taco Bell
to remove artificial ingredients, to source products from more
humanely raised animals and to match Chick-fil-A, McDonald's
Corp MCD.N , Subway and other rivals' commitments to sourcing
meat raised with fewer antibiotics.
McDonald's said in September its 16,000 U.S. and Canadian
restaurants would switch to cage-free eggs within 10 years.
The Golden Arches uses about 2 billion eggs each year in the
United States, where it dominates breakfast. Analysts estimate
that breakfast accounts for about 25 percent of McDonald's
domestic sales and roughly 40 percent of profit.
Taco Bell, which recently said that breakfast accounted for
6 percent of the chain's sales mix, uses the equivalent of 13
million eggs each year.
McDonald's cage-free commitment demands far greater change
in the North American egg industry that is rebuilding flocks
after the worst bird flu outbreak in U.S. history. For example,
its recently launched all-day breakfast program sent egg prices
higher.
Burger King QSR.TO , also a small player in the breakfast
category, has committed to going 100 percent cage-free for its
eggs by 2017.
Dunkin' Donuts DNKN.O in March said that 10 percent of all
eggs sourced for its breakfast sandwiches in the U.S. would be
from cage-free hens by the end of 2016.
Elsewhere, Starbucks Corp SBUX.O and Panera Bread Co
PNRA.O each have said they would make the move to cage-free
eggs by 2020.
Taco Bell, a division of Yum Brands Inc YUM.N , said its
whole eggs would be certified according to cage-free egg
production standards set by the American Humane Association.
The chain also reiterated that it would remove artificial
flavors and colors, added trans fat, high fructose corn syrup,
and unsustainable palm oil from its core menu items by the
beginning of 2016.