Food manufacturers and supermarkets have been urged to boycott eggs from battery hens before a European ban on their use comes into effect in 2012.
Compassion in World Farming claims companies can steal a march on their competitors by anticipating the ban instead of waiting more than ten years for it to come into force. It says it will work with any business that decides to do so.
‘Supermarket and food manufacturers ought to be looking to lead the way rather than following,’ said campaigns director Philip Lynbery. ‘There is a lot of mileage in taking a pro-active stance on this issue.’
Marks & Spencer is the only major retailer to refuse to sell eggs or egg ingredients from caged birds, but McDonald's UK has pledged to use only free range eggs by the end of this year. Marlow Foods, which produces Quorn products, is also looking to substitute battery-cage eggs.
Compassion in World Farming recently signed an agreement with the Restaurant Association of Great Britain to promote the use of free range eggs to its members, who include Whitbreads.
Using battery cages to produce eggs for consumption will be illegal in Europe from January 2012.