motherhen Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 To start this thread, which came as an inspired suggestion from Annie, I've copied below the reply I had from the Soil Association, in response to my query about whether the organic eggs in organic products had by definition to be free range, or whether barn hens could just be fed an organic diet. Good news, anyt egg products that are organic must be free range Please add posts with the names of any products you know about containing eggs that are free range Full email here: Thank you for your email. Animal welfare is a central part of organic standards, as a result all animals raised to organic standards must be free range. I've included an information sheet below on animal welfare, which explains the difference between free range and organic. The short answer to your question, is no. Barn hens could not be labelled as organic if they are only fed organic food. The term organic is defined by EU law, and any product carrying the term on a label must be certified by an approved certification body (such as the Soil Association). Added by Buffie If it's soil association marked 'Organic' the eggs in it are free range. Vegetarian society marked products like Quorn are also guaranteed free range eggs. SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE FREE RANGE THOUGH. http://www.vegsoc.org Please find a link to our welfare pages below; http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/09e7d9e72aea553a80256aa70051e20e/674c00f8ade6722c80257031004b1c54!OpenDocument Best wishes Marisa Vaughan Information and Supporter Services Officer Soil Association Bristol House 40-56 Victoria Street Bristol BS1 6BY T:0117 914 2444 F:0117 9252504 W:http://www.soilassociation.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 This is the thing in full from the BHWT site http://www.thehenshouse.co.uk If you want to help the millions of battery hens, but you don ' t have room in your garden to keep any - here ' s some simple steps you can take, without spending a fortune: Don't buy battery eggs - that ' s the obvious one. Don't buy foods containing battery eggs In our view this has got to be THE most important way in which people can help battery hens. For example, Hellmanns are still using battery eggs (from Holland in fact) in their mayonnaise products. Their argument when challenged is that there are not enough barn and free range eggs to make the switch! They would do if enough people stopped buying their products! On a jar is a free phone number for Customer Service - ring them up, be polite, give them your name and tell them you are no longer going to purchase their products until they stop using battery eggs. If enough people take the trouble, it will make a difference! Take care when buying cakes, pasta, quiches and any other products containing eggs - unless it says they ' re free range, they're likely to be battery. Start asking for products containing British free range eggs. Below is a supermarket table showing who ' s top and who is not: Supermarket Their policy Rating Marks & Spencer All their food products contain only free range eggs Waitrose All their own brand food products contain only free range eggs Selfridges Same as M & S and Waitrose - all own brand products contain free range eggs Harvey Nichols Only free range eggs used in own brand products The Co-op Hope to be battery egg free in own brand products some time in the summer Budgens Currently taking battery eggs of shelves in some stores with intention of permanently removing all battery eggs Asda Extra Special range of own brand products contain free range eggs Tesco No intention of banning battery eggs in the near future Sainsburys No intention of banning battery eggs in the near future Iceland No intention of banning battery eggs in the near future Morrisons No intention of banning battery eggs in the near future Every time you stop buying a product using battery eggs, you're helping a battery hen in the future. Eating out - become more aware If you eat out in a restaurant, café, pub or sandwich bar - check that the eggs you are eating are from barn or free range production systems. If they're not - ask that a choice be introduced. Vast quantities of imported eggs are used in the catering industry - they are invisible and the consumer is blissfully unaware that he is supporting the industry. PIZZA EXPRESS & MCDONALDS both use only free range eggs in their catering - this just proves it is possible to source enough eggs from alternative systems. If you eat at their outlets, thank the staff for using free range - positive awareness is very powerful and will help spread the word. [/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Life is getting so difficult for those of us who would like to do the right thing. When I was your age Martin, eggs were purchased at the local corner shop. The shop keeper kept them in a big china bowl on the counter and put them into a nice white paper bag for me to take home. Happy Days both for me and the hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Well there is the farm shop near me on the way to birmingham and I'm going there tomorrow and they sell free-range duck, chicken and geese eggs really cheeply(do you get it again?) I'm going there tomorrow and they sell organic veg low priced to so it's easy to do the right thing. Also in Alcester on the Town Centre there is an old man who runs a mini farm shop, where he sells eggs, honey, jam and flowers. I have never gone there but will try to soon! ---Martin--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Ask if they have any locally reared meat as well Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I don't think they do, they mainly do eggs, fruit, veg and flowers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 So - as a thought - would all organic pasta therefore contain free range eggs That would be a way for me to ensure I was using free range. Or does that just apply to fresh pasta - I'm not sure I've seen that organic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 I've just re-read the Soil Association link and if the pasta, or any organic food, has the soil association symbol then the eggs used in it must be free range and meet the extra SA criteria. I think from reading their reply to me, that all eggs in organic products must be free range, but that point isn't quite so obvious. ps love the avatar PH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Is there such a thing as free range egg comercial mayonaise I used to buy Helmanns till I found out about their policies but the trouble is I miss it I like Mayo and although I can make my own I would rather have a jar of stuff in the fridge for the odd occasion that I want it I don't consume enough to make it worth while making it myself to be honest but I like it - any suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Louise, I've just had a quick look at Tesco. They sell their own organic mayonnaise. They also sell something called 'Simply Delicious' light organic mayonnaise. I've not tried either as I use the Weight Watchers mayo - I'll have to check that one out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 Is there such a thing as free range egg comercial mayonaise The M&S one contains free range eggs, as do all of their products containing eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 This is very helpful to everyone. BBx Yep - it is helpful - I do wish I could do more so as much info as possible to help in the little ways that we may not have thought of is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalikoo Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Waitrose own label organic mayonaise is made from free range eggs. I hate shopping so have done my weekly shopping online for a number of years at Tesco but since getting the chickens and being more aware of the plight of bettery hens I have started to shop online at Ocado (Waitrose) if you spend over £75 the deliver for free too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Thanks for all the information. I have to admit that this is one area that I am now starting to make changes in. It simply hadn't occured to me before It's now getting to the stage where I don't buy prepacked sanwiches anymore because I can't be sure what's in them I am in one big guilt fest now as I try to put new shopping habbits in place. We are getting there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 don't feel guilty COAM You're doing so much more than most people adn we've all got to start somewhere - my main problem is persuading my SSH to spend a little extra for welfare etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 my main problem is persuading my SSH to spend a little extra for welfare etc... I think that is a hard one. To get my head around it, I think of the costlier Organic/free-range/fair-trade products as representing the true cost of such items. The cheaper products are cheaper because the producers have cut costs either in quality or labour, so I don't want them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I can't do the same with some of my family. They don't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Thanks for all the information. I have to admit that this is one area that I am now starting to make changes in. It simply hadn't occured to me before It's now getting to the stage where I don't buy prepacked sanwiches anymore because I can't be sure what's in them I am in one big guilt fest now as I try to put new shopping habbits in place. We are getting there. 1) We buy our prepacked sandwiches at M&S 2) Sandwiches with free-range eggs in say it on the packet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 my main problem is persuading my SSH to spend a little extra for welfare etc... I think that is a hard one. To get my head around it, I think of the costlier Organic/free-range/fair-trade products as representing the true cost of such items. The cheaper products are cheaper because the producers have cut costs either in quality or labour, so I don't want them. I keep trying - in subtle ways mostly as I think the nagging route will just make it worse, I do make a little progress each time I think Having hens has really helped though - I just remind him to think how he'd feel if Willy & Tilly were in a tiny cage all day - that works every time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Our nearest m&s is miles away and I live on a peninsular jutting out into the sea so getting in and out of town is not easy sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Simply delicious uses free range eggs, also make Pizza Express dressing which is free range BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I will try to remember next time I brave the M&S food hall I don't use Tesco where I can help it and the simply delicious I haven't seen locally but I will look out for it Thanks Guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 I tried Holland and Barrett and they only have egg free mayonaise and the assistant seeemed surprised that I asked for organic Mind you that was in Galashiels I sometimes struggle to get organic produce there but there isn't a health food shop in Peebles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 What about products that use free range and additive free meat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 Didn't look for that COAM I tend to try to be a purist with food so I don't eat much processed meat what i do eat tends to be sausage, salami etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
