I’VE CRACKED IT
Minister says we’ll get through egg shortages
BRITAIN will crack the egg crisis, a minister vowed yesterday.
Environment secretary Therese Coffey told MPs there are still nearly 14million egg-laying hens – despite the country battling its largest-ever bird flu outbreak.
She claims “we can get through this supply difficulty” despite supermarkets rationing boxes.
It comes after she was grilled by Labour MP Dan Jarvis on the shortages of eggs and turkeys ahead of Christmas.
Coffey replied: “The minister for food, farming and fishing is meeting the industry on a regular basis. But recognising there are still about nearly 14m egg-laying hens available, I’m confident we can get through this.”
It comes as Tesco is considering joining Asda and Lidl in capping how many eggs shoppers can buy amid the nationwide shortage. But egg farmers warn the shortages are likely to worsen.
The British Free Range Egg Producers Association said: “Many of our members are losing money on every egg laid, and our data shows that even those who are making a small profit do not see a long-term future.
“Fewer hens means fewer eggs and we warned that eggs could be in short supply by Christmas.”