Socially conscious shoppers frequent Central Market grocery store, but the Humane Society of the United States says few of them realize what kind of farms Central Market’s eggs come from.

That’s why the HSUS has launched a campaign to let people know.

“Each bird on average has on average about 67-square inches which is about 2/3rds of an 8x11 sheet of paper if they survive that long,” said Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO, Humane Society of the United States.

The conditions are horrible. Central Market, which is owned by HEB, buys eggs from factory farms, according to the HSUS. They keep wire mesh cages stacked five or six high in dark rooms.

These facilities are notorious for keeping hens crammed in tight cages sometimes up to 9 in a space.

The chickens can’t nest, flap their wings, or even stand up straight, Pacelle explained. Disease and dead birds are common.

The Humane Society says it’s nothing more than needless suffering.

“Consumers do not want to see farm animals mistreated,” Pacelle said. “Even animals raised for food deserve basic humane consideration.”

The alternative is cage free farms, where birds can roam or at least aren’t as confined. Eggs from these places are labeled that way on cartons you see at the store.

It’s all Whole Foods Market sells and all Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream buys. The dessert maker purchases up to a 100-million of these eggs a year, the HSUS said.

To its credit, Central Market stocks some cage free eggs but not exclusively.

Central Market spokeswoman Christine Connelly told KHOU the chain provides a choice to consumers by offering the cheaper caged eggs and there are currently no plans to change that.

Shoppers can pay up to a dollar difference for a dozen cage-free eggs.

Even though it’s illegal in Europe, the U.S.D.A. has so far refused to ban caged hens here.

The Humane Society wants Central Market to end the practice all together and urges shoppers to avoid the upscale grocery store until it does so.