more information

for consumers

• About Choose Wisely
• How to choose your eggs wisely
• Find businesses to support
• Why eat Humane Food
• Where are eggs in our food
• About egg production systems
• Resources to download

for businesses

• Why serve Humane Food
• Consumer trends
• Where are eggs in our food
• About egg production systems
• Questions to ask your supplier
• Advising customers of your commitment
• Resources to download

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Show you care about farm animals, and join the Facebook I Choose Wisely group or MySpace I Choose Wisely group.

Consumer trends

Consumers are increasingly demanding food produced to high animal welfare standards and this is a global trend.

The free-rnage and barn-laid egg industry is growing with this increasing public awareness and in 2007 around 29% of eggs sold to the public came from hens not living in cages.

There are moves to get hens out of cages across the developed world, but the leader in this area is the European Union (EU). From January 2003 in the EU no new battery cages were installed, and after 2012 all hens must have access to at least 750cm² space, a nest, a perch and litter for dust bathing and scratching.

In the United Kingdom, approximately 40% of eggs are produced from hens that live cage-free. In Denmark and the Netherlands this figure is around 50%, in Sweden it’s 60% and in Austria 70% of eggs are produced in cage-free systems. Unfortunately in Australia, hens will continue to be kept in barren battery cages for the foreseeable future, with less space each than the size of an A4 piece of paper and no ability to express basic behavioural needs. An unacceptable situation.

Major EU businesses including Waitrose, McDonalds and Marks & Spencer have already rejected eggs from hens in cages. And high profile chefs, like Jamie Oliver, continue to promote the use of animal welfare-friendly food.

In Australia, many businesses have already chosen cage-free. The RSPCA’s Choose Wisely scheme is about recognising their efforts and encouraging others to join in.

How your business can join Choose Wisely

When you're ready to make a difference and commit to using eggs, chicken or pork (or all three) from higher welfare farming systems, download the Business Registration Form and Commitment Statement from the Resources section.