Free Range or Value eggs?

Larumbelle

sorryusernamesgone wrote: »

Everyone thats ever worked in an egg packing station knows this. Mind you there's a few who dont care as long as they get their pay packet at the end of the week

And yes its says on the boxes what they're supposed to be, ie; free range, barn, intensive, but all the eggs are mixed up together and sometimes just battery eggs.

So if the box says free range, its usually battery eggs inside. All major egg packers are the same. I think it should be exposed but no-one's interested enough to do anything.

There's a few who don't care? Are you one of them? If not, why aren't you naming and shaming? I'd be shouting from the rooftops if it were me. How do you know nobody's interested, have you tried? I'm pretty sure this is right up certain newspapers' streets, and can actually put you in touch with a relevent journalist if you'd like to name and shame.

competitionscafe

sorryusernamesgone wrote: »

So if the box says free range, its usually battery eggs inside. All major egg packers are the same. I think it should be exposed but no-one's interested enough to do anything.

If you contacted Hugh Fw, Felicity Lawrence (Guardian) [ http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/felicitylawrence ] Jon Henley (Guardian) [ http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jonhenley ] or Joanna Blythman (Herald) [ http://fifthestate.co.uk/author/joannablythman/ ] for example I am sure they would be interested..

Purple_Sparkles

I keep my own free range hens and I'm lucky that they've been laying all winter so I've not had to buy any. (I've got so many that I'm swapping eggs for honey from a lovely local lady who keeps bees). If I did have to buy then they would be from a local farm or poultry keeper, no way a supermarket, I'd rather do without!

Larumbelle

Exactly who I would suggest, Compscafe, and I know there's another journalist who is looking into a similar kind of territory at the moment, because he approached me for some information. So sorryusernamesgone, if you'd like to PM me in total confidence (and anonymity) I can pass it on.

MaximumImpact

Ermmmmm...I am slightly confused by this allegation of packing stations switching labels....I lived on a battery farm for 4 years and I know that nearly all if not all battery farms pack their own eggs so saying that the labels change is rubbish. The farms are inspected on a very regular basis and so they would never, ever get away with it. If the OP who gave this information is real then he needs to contact the proper authorities straight away.

Having lived on a battery farm, I have a few points that concern me about the UK getting rid of them. Although they are definately not the ideal place to have chickens, closing them all down opens a whole new can of worms. For instance, cheap eggs will now come from the continent, whos record of animal welfare is abysmal. At least here, the animals are checked every few months, vet care is enforced and the rules are obeyed otherwise DEFRA and other agencies would shut down the farms straightaway. Getting cheap eggs from the continent means that the animals can be kept in any conditions and you really dont know where your food has come from.

Barn raised and free range eggs are open to interpretation and I ask people to check out the regulations on what barn fed and free range actually are before they buy thinking that these are the best eggs!!! You will find that up to 50% of birds that are laying in the free range system never actually go outside and that the regs state that up to 2,500 birds can be kept on a hectare of land....that's worse than caged hens.......

The best eggs are always bought from somewhere you can see the hens and conditions they are kept in and you can always keep your own.....

Penelope_Penguin

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

We keep our own free-range hens, so have their eggs in the warmer months (they're highly-strung rare breed so are off the lay atm; my friend's hybrids laid all winter :rolleyes: ). Since December I've been buying free range eggs at a smallholder's gate.

My hens must have ben listening :rolleyes: I've just been down to see them and found the first egg of the season :T Can't wait for more

Penny. x

[Deleted User]

never buy supermarket eggs as they are always so anaemic looking.My local butcher supplies free-range local bought farm eggs.They cost £1.95 a dozen and he says he makes very little on them but it brings folk into the shop.He stocks rare-breeds meat, supplied from a local farmer and its superb.His sausages are to die for .Where I live there is a great butchers and also a lovely wet-fish shop so you don't have to rely on MrT's for really fresh food and its all loacl produce .Whitstable is only 30 minutes from me by car and sometimes I go there to stock up and the fish are almost still wriggling on the slab. Kent is a great place to live for fresh food

competitionscafe

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

I'm sure Hugh FW would be very intersted to know this is going on - especially as he's just about to start a new TV series bout hens. You can register on the River Cottage forums here.

Penny. x

That's sounds great! Any idea when it starts? I know Jamie Oliver is doing one on pork as part of "Great British Food Fight", is it part of that? (this month):
http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/jamie-oliver/jamie-saves-our-bacon/jamie-saves-our-bacon-08-12-12_p_1.html

Penelope_Penguin

competitionscafe wrote: »

That's sounds great! Any idea when it starts? I know Jamie Oliver is doing one on pork as part of "Great British Food Fight", is it part of that? (this month):
http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/jamie-oliver/jamie-saves-our-bacon/jamie-saves-our-bacon-08-12-12_p_1.html

I think it's part of the new series of Food Fight. It was mentioned briefly on Hugh's Spring Digest prog last week, but no details.

Penny. x

carriebradshaw

we only buy free range but all the local hens seem to be off lay just now and haven't had any for 3 weeks,we do without rather than buy battery ones they should be banned IMO

I have to pay £1.25 for 6 btw