Battery Hen Welfare Trust

"Working to inspire a free range future"

North Parks
CHULMLEIGH
Devon EX18 7EJ

Patrons: Jamie Oliver, Duchess of Richmond, Pam Ayres Hens re-homed to date ... 91,265 Amanda Holden, Antony Worrall-Thompson, Jimmy Doherty

FROM EGG TO EGG CUSTARD TART

A surprising number of people still think the battery cage has long since ceased to exist. Unfortunately there remain more hens in cages in the UK, and indeed around the world, than any other farmed animal and the reason is because hens in cages produce cheap eggs.  In seeking ‘value’ for money, we can easily lose sight of our values!

An egg has to be one of life’s purest foodstuffs – below you can see the journey it makes from hen to your table.

The Hen:	She sits tight in her tiny cage for a year, sometimes two years, popping out eggs uniform in shape, shell quality and colour for the Farmer …
The Farmer:	He collects the eggs, grades them, date stamps them and hands them to the Packer …
The Packer:	He is the middle man who negotiates and sets the prices the farmer receives for his eggs. Most farmers are contracted to Packers and do not sell direct to the public. It is the Packer who deals with the Supermarkets…
The Supermarkets:	These giants place demands and constraints on the farmer regarding every aspect of egg production ranging from egg uniformity to price squeezing. Whenever you see that good old ‘Buy one, get one Free’ offer (otherwise known as BOGOF), spare a minute to consider the consequences: someone is paying for that offer and more often than not it is the farmer – and invariably his animals. It is the supermarket, of course, where we may buy our egg custard tart …
The Egg Custard Tart:	There they are, well and truly hidden in your purchase – can you be sure they are free range? A staggering 65% of UK battery eggs are used by food manufacturers. If you buy any of the following you could inadvertently be purchasing eggs laid by battery hens: Cake Pasta Chocolates (fondant filled) Quiche Ready made Yorkshire Puddings Ready made Pancakes Biscuits Ready meals Noodles
	…to name but a few. Check our growing list of hen friendly food products