UK sales of free-range eggs outsell battery production

THE number of free-range eggs sold in Britain has outnumbered those from caged hens for the first time, according to new figures from Defra.

Last year, 51 per cent of the nine billion eggs laid in the UK came from barn, free-range or organic hens – marking the tipping point in a quiet revolution in shopping habits since 1995, when 86 per cent of eggs came from battery cages.

Experts believe the shift in buying habits was triggered by the introduction of compulsory labelling eight years ago, which forced producers to state the method of production.

Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, which represents producers, said: “There’s a greater demand for non-caged eggs and egg producers have responded to that.”

Many retailers such as the Co-op and Marks & Spencers have stopped selling eggs from caged birds altogether.

And the buying trend is predicted to continue this year, with 52 per cent of eggs from barn, free-range or organic sources set to be consumed in 2012.

However, animal welfare experts say that about 16 million hens in the UK are still kept in battery cages. So-called “barren” battery cages were outlawed from 1 January after an EU directive in 1996. Their replacement, “enriched” cages, contain perches and litter for pecking and scratching, but only give each hen 750cm squared to roam in.