Woolworths cage egg decision welcome

14 August 2009

Animals Australia has welcomed the decision by Woolworths to reduce the number of cage egg brands on their shelves. But the peak animal welfare organisation cautions that this is only a first step to freeing hens from the cruelty of battery cages.

Executive Director of Animals Australia Glenys Oogjes stated today:
"Woolworths' plan to reduce battery cage egg brands on their shelves shows important ethical leadership. Animals Australia now challenges the other supermarket chains, particularly Coles and IGA, to demonstrate that they too care about the welfare of laying hens.

"Whilst Animals Australia welcomes this first step, we hope Woolworths and other Australian supermarkets will follow the initiative of overseas supermarkets which no longer sell any cage eggs. Supermarkets in UK such as Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's through these enlightened sales policies have played a major role in increasing the market share of free range eggs to over 50% of all UK egg sales.
"Australians do care about animal welfare, but they are simply not aware that laws in Australia still allow hens to be kept in a space smaller than an A4 sheet of paper. Some 11 million battery hens are confined in wire cages that deny almost all natural behaviours, including perching and nesting, and without enough room to even stretch their wings.

"The barren battery cage is now being phased out in Europe, and will be totally banned by 2012. Here in Australia, governments have failed to act on preeminent animal welfare science and totally ignored international precedents in continuing to allow the use of the cruel battery cage. It is therefore crucial that supermarkets and consumers instead use their purchasing power to rid this country of the battery cage system" Ms Oogjes concluded.

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