Free-range eggs disappear from supermarket shelves Business

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that now that the grace period has ended for eggs from free-range hens, “eggs must now be marketed as ‘hen’s eggs’ on the ground “”.

The eggs will need to be stamped with different codes indicating that they are now considered barn eggs. Free-range egg cartons will still be permitted to be used, but another sticker or label will also need to be placed on them to show that they are technically barn eggs.

Supermarkets and convenience stores, meanwhile, will be required to provide clear and transparent information to customers when selling eggs as to why there have been changes in farming methods and why chickens are now kept indoors. inside.

Retailers are adding the new signs, with Sainsbury’s saying it will label the eggs either on the packaging or by adding a clear sticker, and putting notices in stores and on its website.

Booker Group, the UK’s largest wholesaler, has meanwhile emailed its customers to say that all eggs laid from Monday should be labeled as barn eggs instead of bred eggs free range, and that the Lion code on eggs will be changed to show the eggs are now classified as coop eggs.

Booker, owner of the Premier, Lodis and Budgens brands, said customers should post clear notices “in a prominent place on your premises” telling customers why there have been changes.

The Defra spokesman said: “We continue to support the poultry sector through this difficult time.”

Chicken coop eggs have generally been cheaper than free-range eggs, but supermarkets are not expected to change prices after the switch. Sainsbury’s, for example, plans to keep prices at the same level.

Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Council, said: “We have undertaken research which has shown that consumers want to support free-range hens and free-range farmers.

“Temporarily marking packages and eggs from free-range hens as Barn is not only the most convenient solution, but it also means that consumers can continue to buy eggs from free-range hens, even temporarily housed , while farmers can ensure that the hens are safe and healthy.”