Supposedly Free Range eggs but caged from local butchers

jaxxy00

:mad: After seeing for myself where our eggs come from etc, as many have over the last couple of weeks, i decided i wouldnt be buying cheap eggs anymore, only organic or free range.

As i hadnt purchased these before i have been looking around and comparing prices and found supermarkets to be about £1.80 for 6 but Netto are £1.39 for 6 so got a box from there. Today though i went into my local butchers and brought 6 eggs for 80p, which not only are they cheaper but im assuming more local which is better too. I asked what type they were and if the chickens were free to run around etc and was told they were free range and able to run around outside etc. So i felt better all round at buying these and thought to myself i would get them from there all the time. I also asked about the price of chickens and was told the average price was about £5-7 depending on size. He said there had been a lot of interest in eggs and chickens lately which i think is very good, also a friend today said that in Morrisons when she was in the fridge section, they didnt have any organic/free range chickens or portions left and she heard people saying they would rather go without than buy the poor things that had been caged etc.

Well done Jamie and Hugh for making everyone aware.

Anyway, on my return home from the butchers i notice 3 of the eggs i boxed up had no markings on at all and the other 3 eggs had identity stamps on them. When i check the meaning of the stamp it says these eggs are from caged birds :eek:. Im quite shocked to be honest and am wondering if there could be a mistake somehow, as i wouldnt want to think i got lied to at the butchers as they have been there years.. First of all, this is what is stamped on the eggs 3UK 14138 and as my free range from Netto has a 1UK ......... stamp on it proving its free range this butchers egg shows to be caged. Is it possible for it to have been wrongly stamped? Or do i go back to the butchers tomorrow and ask why ive paid for free range but got caged?

Sorry for rambling but im determined to buy 'good' eggs as such and really am annoyed at this happening. What would you do? It also makes me wonder how many others, not just at my butchers but elsewhere, think they are buying a particular product but not getting what they pay for. Would all caged birds eggs get stamped or is it possible for their eggs to get sold on as free range and not get stamped at all?

Millie's_Mum

I'd be really annoyed too if I was you but did you really believe that they were free range for 80p?

cheeky_monkey_mummy

I buy my eggs from somebody who has a few chickens of their own in the garden. There are quite a few people about with notices on the gate with eggs for sale. It is so nice to see the chickens merrily going about their business happy as larry . The eggs are so delicious, my kids love them and I know they are getting a healthy breakfast :j . I pay £1 for half a dozen so are cheaper than shop bought free range yet much, much better and often when I go they go and check the chickens have some freshly laid in the nests so you cannot get much fresher than that and also as they have different breeds of chickens we get a lovely colourful assortment of eggs.

jaxxy00

Millie's_Mum wrote: »

I'd be really annoyed too if I was you but did you really believe that they were free range for 80p?

Well i had looked online at prices and see that from a farm you could pay about £1 for 6 so didnt think it was too out of place at 80p for 6. Also, living in Norfolk we do have lots of farming land etc around so yes i did believe that. The only problem is we dont have any farms that we can go to ourselves nearby that im aware of that do eggs. There are plenty that do pick your own fruit etc but not eggs.Im looking into it though and hope to find some.

xlt_hunter

Did the sign say Free Range - if so trading standards should be informed

0UK = Organic
1UK = Free Range
2UK = Barn
3UK = Cage

geordie_joe

It could be a one off mistake, but I would go back to the shop and check the other eggs they are selling.

Nobody thinks twice at someone picking up a box of eggs and checking they aren't cracked before they but them. Except this time you will be checking the stamp.

If you find more caged eggs being sold as free range report the shop to trading standards.

How many other people have bought the eggs thinking they were free range?

geordie_joe

xlt_hunter wrote: »

Did the sign say Free Range - if so trading standards should be informed

0UK = Organic
1UK = Free Range
2UK = Barn
3UK = Cage

I normally assume that free range also means organic, but this may not be the case. I suppose you could keep hens in a cage and feed them organic food and not give them chemicals. You could also allow hens to run "free range" and give them chemicals to eat.

So how do you tell if a chicken, or egg is both free range and organic?

Do they have two stamps on them?

jaxxy00

xlt_hunter wrote: »

Did the sign say Free Range - if so trading standards should be informed

0UK = Organic
1UK = Free Range
2UK = Barn
3UK = Cage

I dont remember seeing a sign, i just see a stack of trays of eggs with empty boxes for you to pick your own and fill the box. I picked six and 3 of which had no markings and the other 3 had the markings i said about before. I just made a point of asking what type they were, which was when i was told they were free range and free to run around outside.

I spoke to my friend who had brought hers from there yesterday and hers were also caged hen eggs (had 3UK) but with a different farm identity.

Will take them back tomorrow and see what happens.

Fedz

I commend you on your insistance of free-range

It could be an honest mistake and no disrespect to the butcher but, I guess many would lie and say free-range when they're not :rolleyes:

I'd buy them from a reputable retailer where the retailer is rigorously monitored ...etc eg: Sainsburys

You could ask out of casual interest to the butcher where are the chickens located

Fedz

jaxxy00 wrote: »

Will take them back tomorrow and see what happens.

Good luck

I know you will but, remember to keep us update please

kate83

geordie_joe wrote: »

I normally assume that free range also means organic, but this may not be the case. I suppose you could keep hens in a cage and feed them organic food and not give them chemicals. You could also allow hens to run "free range" and give them chemicals to eat.

So how do you tell if a chicken, or egg is both free range and organic?

Do they have two stamps on them?

Organic eggs can't come from caged hens - they can't be called organic if they are

Hens producing organic eggs are always free range. In addition, hens must be fed an organically produced diet and ranged on organic land.

taken from http://www.britegg.co.uk/ukeggs05/ukeggs2.html

Legally, all eggs should be stamped unless you are buying them direct from the person with the hens. Unless the butcher has the hens himself then selling unmarked eggs is illegal!