Free range eggs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be

Chickens shut in for weeks over avian flu scare

MILLIONS of eggs marketed as free range are being laid by hens that have not been outside for a month.

Farmers have been forced to keep poultry cooped up since the start of last month under strict Government rules to counter a bird flu outbreak.

But producers are continuing to label eggs and meat as free range by taking advantage of an EU rule.

The edict allows poultry goods to be marketed as such for up to 12 weeks if birds were kept inside to protect public health.

Meanwhile, shoppers are continuing to pay the extra premium for free-range eggs even though millions of chickens have been kept inside round the clock

Roughly half of the 34 million eggs eaten every day in the UK are free range. They can cost 50 per cent more than eggs from chickens reared exclusively indoors. Free range chicken meat accounts for more than 5 per cent of the market.

Industry leaders insist they have no other option than to abide by the ruling.

Robert Gooch, of the British Free Range Producers Association, said: ‘This is a situation that is not of farmers’ making. It will be seen as a necessary step to protect pro- duction of free range eggs. The rapid spread of avian influenza across Europe has seen many flocks wiped out and we must do whatever we can to protect the UK flock.’

The National Farmers’ Union says it is ‘acutely aware of the situation’. But it said that while free range chickens had to remain inside, producers would still have to meet other existing welfare requirements such as lower stocking densities and ‘enriched’ indoor environments.

The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) introduced a socalled prevention zone on December 6 in response to a European-wide outbreak of the H5N8 strain of the disease. Avian flu has already been confirmed at two farms, one in Lincolnshire on December 16 and another in Wales last week.

Defra has now extended the order until February 28 – one day before the end of the 12-week period during which farmers are allowed to continue to use the free range label.

In the meantime, supermarkets insist they will continue to label free range poultry products as the law allows. Waitrose and Marks & Spencer only sell free range eggs.

An M&S spokesman said: ‘As producers are required by law to bring the birds indoors, their free range status is maintained and they will be marketed and labelled as free range.’ Free range egg producers say shoppers should continue to pay the extra premium for their goods.

Doug Wanstall, whose Bank Farm Poultry produces a million free range eggs a week on 11 farms across the south of England, said: ‘It is not our fault that the birds are being kept in – this has come from the top. This is a very pertinent decision taken to prevent the UK flock from catching avian influenza.

‘I think it is absolutely appropriate that the price should be maintained and that free range eggs should be maintained because when February 28 comes they will be back out again in their pasture and their trees as before.’

‘This has come right from the top’