Eggs from illegal cages

[Mo]

From January it will be illegal to keep hens in barren cages int the EU. Some countries have been saying they are not ready and asking for an extension. This has been denied BUT there will still be farmers with hens in these cages even though it will be illegal. Rather than destroying the eggs it is suggested that they should not be sold as whole eggs but should be able to be sold in cakes/pasta etc.
Compassion in World Farming has sent out emails asking us to contact the EU's Commissioner Dalli to urge that any transition period is limited to 6 months.

It is easy to buy a box of Free Range eggs but so hard to be sure that all the egg products we eat are free range. That tempting cake in the shop window and all sorts of things you wouldn't guess had eggs in - if it doesn't say Free Range, then it probably isn't (although Co-op and M&S use free-range eggs in all their own brand, and T s and Sains in some quality lines i think).
Compassion has some guides you can download to find out more this and this

[Mo]

Not that these new cages are all that good. Wendy posted this link a while ago.
But at least we shouldn't allow the EU to backslide on the change. Not fair to the hens and not fair to our farmers who have been to the expense of the change-over.

Please click the link in the post above, and send the email.

[jannie]

Email sent Mo .. thanks for the link ..

[perchy]

[Annie]

You do raise a good point Mo about 'hidden' eggs. The BHWT newsletter was pointing out just this , as the egg used in food production is usually bought by the producer as liquid egg and so gets overlooked. Once the ban comes i nto force I think the BHWT will be making a thing about promoting the food manufacturers who DO use free range so making it easier for consumers to choose that option.

[wendy]

been done. Thanks Mo.

[Kernow]

Just picked this up while browsing around which may be interesting

‘Illegal eggs’ produced in battery cages have been used legally in the food industry but from July 2012, this will be banned as well"

Looks like they possibly mean it although no legislation is any good unless it is enforced.

[Mo]

You do raise a good point Mo about 'hidden' eggs. The BHWT newsletter was pointing out just this , as the egg used in food production is usually bought by the producer as liquid egg and so gets overlooked. Once the ban comes i nto force I think the BHWT will be making a thing about promoting the food manufacturers who DO use free range so making it easier for consumers to choose that option.

Do you have a link Annie?

[Mo]

Just picked this up while browsing around which may be interesting

‘Illegal eggs’ produced in battery cages have been used legally in the food industry but from July 2012, this will be banned as well"

Looks like they possibly mean it although no legislation is any good unless it is enforced.

Britain may enforce the rules, but it seems that not every EU country Take a look, and sign the email to ag ministers.

People think everything is fine now the ban is in place
BUT
there are still illegal little cages
the new cages are not much better
and I think eggs and egg products can still be imported from other countries where the rules don't apply
Free Range is better. Soil Association free range (or from our own hens) is best

[fishpond]

Done

[Linda S]

done

[Mo]

Compassion are asking us to make origami hens to send to the Spanish Ag minister to protest against illegal cages still in use.