Consumers urged to convert from 'colony' caged to free range eggs

Many consumers are confused at the new European legislation which saw changes to the way caged hens are housed.

The change, which came into force last year, meant that traditional cages were outlawed and replaced with a new 'colony' caged system.

Many welfare groups argue that a cage is still a cage and consumers should always purchase welfare friendly free range eggs. Recent research has found that the cost to consumers of converting from 'colony' caged eggs to free range eggs is only £5.55 a year.

So what can you buy for £5.55? A new lipstick? Unlimited salad bar at Pizza Hut? How about a year’s worth of increased essential nutrients and higher welfare standards through a simple switch at the supermarket? That’s the average annual cost of switching from caged eggs to free-range according to new research.

Once considered a pricy option, new research has revealed that the average annual cost of switching is a very modest £5.55 as the cost of budget egg ranges has increased with the introduction of new legislation affecting cage egg production in the past 12 months.

With food budgets still being stretched, eggs represent one of the most nutritious foods money can buy – they are a natural source of many nutrients, including high quality protein, vitamins and minerals with, on average, 185 eggs consumed per person in the UK each year.

Previous limits on consumption, due to their cholesterol content, have now been removed and eggs remain a healthy fast food for all the family.

The research, by Yorkshire Farmhouse, the UK’s largest producer and packer of free-range only eggs, compared the prices of cartons of eggs from free-range and caged hens from the major supermarkets and found the average cost of switching to be much lower than initially thought.

Adrian Potter, Yorkshire Farmhouse Director, said: “This research shows just how affordable switching to free range eggs can be. Modern free range egg systems provide the hens with higher standards of animal welfare and encourage them to express their natural behaviour."

“Our recent £6m investment in the latest production systems has allowed us to create the preferred environment for the hens to live and lay their eggs in safety and comfort. During daylight hours the hens have the run of acres of wooded fields that encourages them to roam and display their natural behaviour, resulting in fuller, more active lives.”