March 5, 2007

Belgium switching to eggs from non-caged chickens

The Delhaize supermarket chain in Belgium has followed in the footsteps of at least three other supermarkets in replacing eggs from caged hens with barn, free-range and organic eggs.

Belgium is following the example set by the Netherlands, whose supermarkets no longer sells eggs from caged chickens.

The animal welfare group Global Action in the Interest of Animals (GAIA) welcomed the move and said the move was a strong signal to producers to abandon the use of both battery and enriched cages.

The EU is banning conventional battery cages by 2012 but enriched cages, which gives hens a-third more space, would still be allowed.