Cornish Food Market

Get Cracking to support our British Egg Producers!

January 04, 2012 in | 0 comments

According to britegg.co.uk, we eat more than 11 billion eggs a year – 31m every day! – and more than 23,000 people are directly or indirectly employed in egg production in the UK. But British egg producers need our support now more than ever….

The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) have embarked on the first stage towards launching Judicial Review proceedings by formally writing to Defra to challenge the UK Government on its refusal to ban imports of illegally-produced battery cage eggs and egg products.

Why? Because British egg producers have invested £400 million on phasing out barren battery cages, to meet the requirements of EU legislation which came into force on 1 January 2012, and all British Lion cage eggs now come from new, enriched colony cages.

However producers in 13 other EU countries, including Spain, Italy and Poland, have not fully complied with the ban and it is estimated that around one-quarter of EU cage egg production will be illegal, with more than 50 million hens still being kept in barren battery cages, producing more than 40 million eggs a day.

While many UK farmers are proud to use the kinder cages, they are worried about how they can possibly compete when these cheaper eggs, often used in food manufacturing and catering, are still being sold that don't meet their mandated standards. Why isn't the government banning eggs that don't meet the criteria it demands of its own farmers? Andrew Parker, BEIC Chairman, commented: “British egg producers have invested heavily to meet their legal obligations and improve animal welfare. We now need our Government to support them by preventing unfair competition from producers in other countries who have not complied with the ban.

Cornishfoodmarket.co.uk is committed to supporting our egg industry by supplying the best Cornish free-range eggs from St Ewe.

St Ewe has been producing eggs from family-run Ventonwyn Farm in Tregony for over 25 years. They are dedicated to improving their system of production to make sure all the hens stay happy and healthy while producing their award-winning free-range eggs.

St Ewe hens arrive as day-old chicks and are encouraged to range as soon as the young birds go into the hen houses and before they start laying, creating a more settled and contented flock. These free-range hens have the best start in life: they roam freely during the day in sheltered fields specially planted with trees to offer natural shade and wind protection. Whatever then hens are able to forage naturally is supplemented with specially milled food, ensuring healthy hens and nutritious eggs with lovely deep yellow yolks. And they are supplied with pure Cornish spring water through a well that has serviced the farm for generations.

The eggs are collected every day, all year round. They are graded twice, ensuring they are in perfect condition, then they are stamped with the ‘best before’ date, their unique farm code, and the red British Lion Quality Mark before being packed into boxes.

This quality mark on egg shells and egg boxes means that the eggs have been produced to the highest standards of food safety and can only be used by subscribers to the BEIC on eggs which have been produced in accordance with UK and EU law and the British Lion Quality Code of Practice. Registered farms must comply with a strict Code of Practice for Lion Quality eggs covering all areas of production, including welfare and hygiene. And to guarantee traceability, all aspects of production and distribution are regulated. Reassuringly, approximately 85% of UK eggs are now produced to British Lion Quality standards.

So, show your support and get cracking!