This letter is in response to the letters about cage-free eggs. I would like to point out that commercial egg-producing hens are not as horribly treated as the public is led to believe. More than 85 percent of all eggs sold in the grocery store are "Animal Care Certified." This means that the hens were treated in accordance with guidelines created by the United Egg Producers, the umbrella group which oversees commercial egg producers in the U.S., including those who raise cage-free layers. Guidelines include standards with regard to humane housing, feed, water, air, space allowance, beak trimming, molting, handling and transportation. There are many advantages to battery cages. The cages are located in climate-controlled houses providing hens with a comfortable temperature and protecting them from many soil-borne diseases. Hens have access to food and clean water at all times and a fresh flow of clean air. Battery cages provide a cleaner, safer environment for eggs by keeping them away from bacteria that might be present in the manure. Having hens in cages also protects them from predators and allows for the farm caretaker to visually inspect each hen daily, which is not possible in a cage-free system. One very important benefit of cages is that caged hens seldom require medication. Hens that are cage-free often require medicated feed and considerably more medication to treat disease because they and their eggs are exposed to their own feces and the bacteria therein. To produce eggs in non-cage settings costs considerably more then caged layers. The difference in price does not make it economical for Penn State to switch to cage-free.