Why We'll Carry On Selling Battery Eggs - Asda

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD? To get across its message of ethical farming. A protest in Leeds some years ago staged by animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming, whose battle goes on

Morrisons says that by 2010 all its own-brand labelled eggs will be free range.

But price was the main obstacle given by Asda in defence of it not following suit.

An Asda spokesman said: "Caged eggs are cheaper than free range eggs.

"Many of our customers only have £46 left at the end of the month, and the way they choose something is down to price."

He added: "All our eggs are 100 per cent British and Lion coded.

"Free-range eggs sales are up by 16 per cent year-on-year at Asda, but our customers want value in terms of price."

The spokesman said the limited supply of free-range eggs was also blamed for Asda's decision to continue to sell battery hen eggs.

Sainsbury's was the first of the supermarket heavyweights to announce plans to go cage-free, giving a deadline on own-label shell eggs of 2012.

It is the UK's top two supermarkets – Asda and Tesco – who are dragging their heels when it comes to ending hen cruelty, say farm animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming (CWF).

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