Price of eggs scrambled following cage law
As cage -and barn- produced egg prices soar, free-range producers are being unfairly squeezed, says farmers' union.
The average price of a dozen large cage or barn eggs has risen by up to 38p, according to figures, following the introduction of an EU-wide ban on battery cages. And there are warnings that they may be a shortage of eggs later in the year if producers go out of business.
Feed costs
An increase in the cost of feed has also had an effect. But the main impact has been due to the directive, which launched on 1st January and means any egg producer needs to offer its hens so-called ‘enriched’ cages as a minimum.
Farmers Weekly says that the cost of a dozen large eggs increased from £2.98 in December to £3.36 in February.
As a result, some experts are forecasting that shops and food manufacturers could start importing cheaper, battery eggs from as far afield as the US, Mexico, Brazil and India.
Elsewhere in Europe
It has also emerged that egg suppliers in some other European countries are still using older-style cages, despite the ban. And the National Farmers Union (NFU), British Egg Industry Council and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs say some UK shops, manufacturers and producers are still buying from these suppliers.
They have published a list of companies that have signed up to not source eggs from producers who use old-style cages. All of the major supermarkets are on the list.
The NFU has also called for an increase in the price farmers are paid for free range eggs. It claims that free range producers are making a loss and retailers are not willing to pass the increased costs of better welfare on to us.
What do you think about the price of eggs? Are you willing to pay more for better animal welfare? Have you say in the Comments section below.
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