How can you help?

The cost of choosing eggs from higher welfare systems compared to battery cages can be a matter of a few pennies – a small price to pay for a major welfare improvement! So please choose to buy only eggs that are labelled free-range, barn, organic or Freedom Food. Freedom Food labelled products are produced by animals on farms inspected to RSPCA welfare standards.

The law in Europe requires all eggs and their boxes to be labelled either free-range, barn, organic or cage. However, these terms (particularly 'eggs from caged hens') can sometimes be in small print on the back of the box. So don’t get caught out by eggs boldly labelled 'Farm Fresh' or 'Healthy Living' - these have probably been laid by caged hens unless it specifically says otherwise!
 

Write to your supermarket...

...and ask them to clearly label all products containing eggs as ingredients with the production system that the hens were kept in. Please also watch out for hidden cage eggs used as ingredients in things like mayonnaise, ice-cream, cakes and ready-meals, which don’t legally have to be labelled. Always check to see if the method of production is stated - which it often is if it isn’t cage.

Why not also download...

...our handy Guide to products containing free-range eggs (PDF 0.70 MB).

You can also help by...

...writing, in your own words, to your local MP, and to:

The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affair
Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
LONDON SW1P 3JR.

Ask them to demand an end to all cages, for the clear and compulsory labelling throughout Europe of eggs used as ingredients with the method of production, and clearer labelling of whole eggs and boxes.

If you are concerned about farm animal welfare, you might also be interested to learn about some more farm animal welfare issues.