Michigan egg consumers are noticing a big change due to the new cage-free law in the state.

The new law, which took effect on Dec. 31, 2024, requires that all shell eggs sold in the state must come from hens raised in cage-free environments.

MSU Extension poultry academic specialist Francine Czerniawski tells us how this new law has some negatives for consumers.

“One of the problems when we have a cage-free system, sometimes the egg layer will lay off of the nest, and that has contact with the feces,” Czerniawski says. “So those eggs are not going to the customer because it has more salmonella infection. So those eggs are discarded.”

Under the new law, any business or farm selling eggs in Michigan must make sure eggs meet these cage-free standards and have written confirmation from suppliers that the eggs come from cage-free systems. Czerniawski says due to this prices may increase in the short-term because cage-free systems tend to cost more to maintain.

This new law does not apply to farms with fewer than 3,000 egg-laying hens.