A number of leading UK supermarkets are to ban the sale of eggs from battery hens, following the introduction of new EU legislation to be introduced by 2012.
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The Co-op has promised the removal of caged hen eggs from their shelves after customer concerns over the animals’ welfare became increasingly heightened.
A spokesperson for the Co-op said their own-label eggs have been free range since October 2006. “In September 2007, The Co-operative announced it was to consult 2.5m members on the development of a food ethical policy, including animal welfare, and the results of this consultation will be announced in the very near future. As part of this, the Co-operative will be announcing that it will be banning the sales of eggs from caged hens with immediate effect.”
Sainsbury is said to be looking to remove all battery eggs by next year, while Morrisons said its own-brand eggs would exclude battery produced ones by 2010.
The moves come as celebrity chef Jamie Oliver examines the poultry industry in a one-off television programme, Jamie’s Fowl Dinners, and launches a campaign to persuade consumers to demand better welfare for hens.
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By GlobalDataWaitrose and Marks & Spencer have already imposed a ban on battery eggs, yet Tesco and Asda have failed to introduce a ban, prompting criticism from some farming campaigners.
A spokesperson for Asda said: “Asda has not used battery production for any of its standard own-label fresh eggs since April 2005. Only Smart price eggs sold at Asda are produced from caged hens.”
This new move to a final ban on battery farmed eggs could mean that only free range and organically produced eggs will be sold in the UK’s supermarkets by 2011.
