By STEVE KARNOWSKI

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Food manufacturer General Mills Inc. has updated its animal welfare policy to include a major move toward cage-free eggs.

Minnesota-based General Mills says it’s committed to going to 100 percent cage-free eggs for its U.S. operations, following several other large companies recently announcing similar moves. The company says it will work with its suppliers to determine a reasonable timeline, given the disruption that bird flu has caused to the U.S. egg supply.

Eggs are an important ingredient in many products for General Mills, whose brands include Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Progresso soups and Hamburger Helper.

The updated policy also affects General Mills’ milk, pork and poultry suppliers.

General Mills worked with the Humane Society of the United States, which calls it a major victory to improve the lives of farm animals.