August 14, 2007

Cage-free eggs seeing rising demand in the US

Cage-free eggs is catching on in the US, with universities, hotel chains and company cafeterias offering the item.

Despite the rising demand, retailers are finding it hard to stock up on cage free eggs.

Ben and Jerry's became the first major food manufacturer to announce it would use only cage-free eggs that have been certified humane by an inspecting organisation last year. However, due to the acute shortage of such eggs, the company says it will need four years to complete the switch.

One reason for the shortage is that many chicken farmers, skeptical that chickens would be living under better conditions if they are cage-free, are holding back on their decision to switch to cage systems.

Conversion would also require time and money. Farmers would also have to count on the current popularity of non-caged eggs not being just a passing phase.

Egg producers still are still finding it hard to believe consumers would pay two to three times more for eggs from cage free chickens.

Setting up a cage-free operation would be much more expensive than one with cages. 

According to John Brunnquell, owner of Egg Innovations, it takes about six months to build a cage-free operation. The cost would be more than triple that of a caged operation.

Still, more farmers are heeding the call. According to statistics from the United Egg Producers, the number of egg laying hens not confined to small cages have doubled in recent years.