A recent investigation conducted by the international nonprofit Equitas has revealed alarming conditions at La Ferme Du Moulin Saint Jacques, the main egg supplier to Carrefour supermarkets in Guadeloupe. Video evidence exposes hens confined in overcrowded, extremely small cages coated in faeces, prompting serious concerns about animal welfare and the quality of products being sold to consumers.
Such battery cage systems are prohibited across the European Union, including France, where Carrefour operates hundreds of stores, due to well-established animal welfare and food safety standards. Eggs produced under these conditions could never be sold to Carrefour customers in mainland France, as EU and French regulations strictly forbid it. Yet Carrefour and the Bernard Hayote Group appear to be allowing these practices in Guadeloupe, despite the fact that its residents are French citizens living in French territory, raising questions about unequal standards and treatment.
In 2025 alone, several French NGOs brought legal actions against Carrefour over alleged failures to adequately address human rights and environmental concerns within its tuna supply chain. During the same period, the retailer faced worker protests in Poland and was cited for consumer protection breaches in France. The situation in Guadeloupe further reinforces concerns that Carrefour applies lower standards in markets considered more vulnerable or peripheral to its core European operations.
At a time when leading retailers such as ALDI, Costco, Auchan, Ahold Delhaize, Tesco and Metro have made public commitments to phase out caged eggs, Carrefour has yet to take a clear position on the issue. This growing disconnect between consumer expectations and company practices continues to widen. Supporting evidence and investigation materials can be found at: www.CarrefourEggs.com.