YUM Yum Brands Inc

Denny's Corp. said Thursday that it will switch to using only cage-free eggs in its U.S. restaurants by 2026, joining other restaurant chains who have made similar commitments recently.

The food industry has faced growing criticism in recent years from animal-welfare advocates and some consumers over the practice of confining egg-laying hens to small cages, as well as pressure to adopt more humane practices for the animals used for meat.

Denny's, a popular breakfast spot, serves more than 400 million eggs a year in items such as omelettes and skillets.

The company said the move to cage-free eggs is part of its effort to use more premium ingredients, such as USDA select beef, fresh fruit and wild-caught salmon.

A number of fast-food companies have announced they will move to use only cage-free eggs in the coming years.

McDonald's Corp., the leading fast-food chain for breakfast, in September said it would stop using eggs from chickens raised in cages in the U.S. and Canada over the next decade.

Several years ago, Burger King said it would move to cage-free eggs by 2017, and Starbucks Corp. and Panera Bread Co. have committed to shifting completely to cage-free eggs by 2020.

Yum Brands Inc. plans to switch to cage-free eggs in its U.S. Taco Bell restaurants by the end of this year.

Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 14, 2016 10:35 ET (15:35 GMT)

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