Steve McIvor, director of food business, Compassion in World Farming, said: “We are shocked that Morrisons is taking this backward step. It is a negative decision, not only for laying hens, but also for consumers and for Morrisons’ reputation.
“Consumers do not like caged egg production and Compassion in World Farming shares this view. We awarded Morrisons a Good Egg Commendation in good faith and would encourage Morrisons to reverse this decision and get back on the right track.
“Compassion presented Morrisons with a Good Egg Commendation in 2008 for their policy commitment to sourcing only free-range eggs across their entire own branded egg offer. To achieve an award, it has to be a ‘life-time’ commitment. Compassion believes that a cage-free egg policy is fundamental for a company committed to higher welfare standards and a change in policy therefore represents a retrograde step for animal welfare.”
McIvor added: “At a time when other brands across Europe, including Sainsbury’s, McDonald’s, The Co-operative Food, Subway, Weatherspoons, Ocado and Ikea, are taking positive steps to improve welfare, this is a really surprising and unfortunate decision by Morrisons and goes against the general retail trend.”
The Good Egg Award was launched in 2007 to recognize companies that have committed to use cage-free eggs or egg products. To date more than 26 million laying hens are set to benefit each year from the award winners’ policies.
Source: Compassion in World Farming
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