Canberra, Sep 15 (IANS): Fast-food giant McDonald's has decided to phase out caged eggs from its menu in Australia within three years, following sustained pressure from animal rights activists, media reported Monday.

Caged eggs, produced by caged hens in poultry farms, will be phased out across all Australian McDonald's restaurants by the end of 2017, WA Today online reported.

The decision to stop the use of caged eggs came under mounting pressure about the living conditions of hens in cage after a long-running campaign by Animals Australia, the Australia's foremost national animal protection organisation.

Animals Australia has welcomed the decision taken by the McDonald's Australia. It has called on other fast-food chains also to stop using caged eggs.

McDonald's, which uses over 91 million eggs a year in Australia, has already stopped using caged eggs in Europe.

A statement posted on McDonald's Australia's Facebook page announcing the move has attracted more than 4600 likes.