Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Our local farm shop sell free range eggs and barn eggs which are marked as such BUT they also sell cheaper eggs in plain boxes that aren’t marked. Most people who go to a farm shop think they’re buying free range eggs and would probably opt for the cheaper ones! I asked them where the unmarked eggs had come from and they then told me they were battery eggs. I just wondered if this was legal, I tried a google to no avail. The farm has its own chickens which would, IMO, reinforce in peoples' minds that they're buying farm eggs. Once I know if this is legal or not I can do something about, if it's illegal then I'll let the correct authority know. If it's legal (which I hope it's not!) then I'm thinking of writing a (very nice) letter to the farm just expressing my feelings and explaining that unless they mark them (I won't tell them not to sell them but they should be marked!) then I will take my custom elsewhere. Does anyone know the law please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 It is illegal, unless they have less than fifty laying hens. If you like, I could let the chief egg marketing inspector know. (and I'll pick up that name now). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 This site might have the answer to your question. Top tip.....do not Google "selling of eggs". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 they only have a small free range flock ranging around the farm, I don't think there's 50, but it still makes people think they're buying free range I would think. Is there nothing that can be done if they have less then 50? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 No idea, sorry. Why not contact your local trading standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 will check that site out thanks, have also mailed my local BHWT trust lady and asked if she knows. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 i was once asked to help a farmer friend out who ran an egg delivery business, on the packaging was "farm fresh eggs" but he only supplied the packaging - i used to have to collect the eggs from a battery farm!!! bit naughty i thought, as it led to the wrong impression that the eggs came from his farm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 i might not have explained this properly- the farm have a small flock of chickens free ranging about but they sell eggs from OTHER sources, the battery eggs are not their own eggs, they get them from somewhere else but they are UNMARKED so I think people will think they're buying the farms own free range eggs. The eggs are unmarked and the farm shop didn't hide it from me when I asked and they admitted the unmarked eggs were battery eggs but how many people will go to the farm, see the chickens wandering round, go into the shop and see boxes of unmarked eggs and think "oh lovely, they must be from the chickens outside"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 That is really shoddy. I would never have thought to question eggs from a farm shop, I know that sounds really daft, but the ones I have frequented have been all for advocating ethical production etc...that is kinda what I thought they stood for! I am way too niave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 That is really shoddy. I would never have thought to question eggs from a farm shop, I know that sounds really daft, but the ones I have frequented have been all for advocating ethical production etc...that is kinda what I thought they stood for! I am way too niave! Your farm shop might not do the same, I'd just encourage everyone to ask the question, if eggs are unmarked, where they've come from. Think about it, if they're free range they're going to be more expensive and they'll definitely be marked as such as it's ethical brownie points for the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 You would have thought that if they own hens then they would have nothing to do with battery eggs, proft margins or not. I would certainly never knowingly (& that is the key word) but battery eggs now. How sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 You would have thought that if they own hens then they would have nothing to do with battery eggs, proft margins or not. that's exactly what i thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 That is really shoddy. I would never have thought to question eggs from a farm shop, I know that sounds really daft, but the ones I have frequented have been all for advocating ethical production etc...that is kinda what I thought they stood for! I am way too niave! Your farm shop might not do the same, I'd just encourage everyone to ask the question, if eggs are unmarked, where they've come from. Think about it, if they're free range they're going to be more expensive and they'll definitely be marked as such as it's ethical brownie points for the shop. yeah sure, unmarked eggs are always going to be dubious I guess. The stupid thing is that they have no need to offer a cheaper alternative, if people have gone all the way to a farm shop to get groceries and they need eggs, they will most likely buy whatever is on offer, provided it isn't extortionate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 if i remember rightly, the battery eggs were 90p a half dozen, the barn ones £1.20 a dozen and the free range £1.40 a dozen. I'm just waiting for a bit of legal advice from the BHWT and a friend at the RSPCA before I decide what to do. It may be that all I can do is write to them but considering they sell them in the first place, will they really care? I'd just ask that everyone tells other people what is possible in these farm shop places, if it hits their pockets then they'll maybe mark them or stop selling altogether with a bit of luck. I'll keep you posted as to what happens in this case though if you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Thats discusting! A farm shop selling bat eggs! How stupid are there people! I wouldnt have been able to stop myslef ranting at her. My free range eggs from the farm shop are litterally free range, you can see the chooks in the feilds and they charge 45p for 6 or 85p for 12. And there charging above this and there BAttery eggs! Whats the farm shop called? I think they should be named and shamed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I'm sure Trading Standards would want to know, it's misrepresentation at the very least surely? Our local farm just has a little shed at the end of the lane which has eggs, I ALWAYS thought they were free range until one day I looked at the marks and saw they were Battery eggs! All it says is "Large Eggs" then the price so they weren't doing anything wrong, people (me included) just presumed that they were free range as they were sold from the farm. I made sure I told everyone who bought them that they were battery eggs and obviously we don't buy them now. Pretty rubbish isn't it I reckon? Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Thats discusting! A farm shop selling bat eggs! How stupid are there people! I wouldnt have been able to stop myslef ranting at her. My free range eggs from the farm shop are litterally free range, you can see the chooks in the feilds and they charge 45p for 6 or 85p for 12. And there charging above this and there BAttery eggs! Whats the farm shop called? I think they should be named and shamed! totally agree! I'll find out and let you know, I've never bothered to look at the name before. I'm worried I might lose my cool with them if I go back. I'll try and google it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I'm sure Trading Standards would want to know, it's misrepresentation at the very least surely? Our local farm just has a little shed at the end of the lane which has eggs, I ALWAYS thought they were free range until one day I looked at the marks and saw they were Battery eggs! All it says is "Large Eggs" then the price so they weren't doing anything wrong, people (me included) just presumed that they were free range as they were sold from the farm. I made sure I told everyone who bought them that they were battery eggs and obviously we don't buy them now. Pretty rubbish isn't it I reckon? Mrs B it really sucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 If there is anything I can do, then let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 ok, someone asked me to name and shame so here you are- this is them! D & L Comer Heathfield Farm, 19, Mill Lane, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 3UU Tel: 0151 420 2047 the more I think about what they do, the angrier I get- I'd stand at the gate handing out leaflets if DH would let me!!! I'm still waiting for some legal advice and I'm rubbish on the phone, I get all tongue tied. If anyone fanices phoning them and asking them why they sell UNMARKED battery eggs, I'd love to know the response! And they definitley do as we were in there only last week, which is when I asked about the unmarked eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 what do you think if I send them this? Dear Mr/Mrs Comer Your farm shop was recommended to me by my mother-in-law and we have visited a few times. The produce we’ve bought has always been delicious but last time we were in, approximately a week ago, I noticed that some of your eggs were unmarked. I asked about the origin of the eggs and I was told they had come from caged hens. I have to say, I find this very upsetting. We re-homed some ex-battery hens recently and it broke my heart to see the condition they were in. I noticed you have some lovely healthy girls roaming around your yard which makes me wonder how you could, in good conscience, actually sell battery eggs. I do find that leaving the eggs unmarked does not give your customers the full picture. Because you had chickens running around outside, I just assumed the unmarked eggs were from them. It wasn’t until I asked that I was told of their origin. I have enclosed my address as I would love to hear your comments; I hope that you will write to me. I am very sorry to inform you, that until you stop selling eggs from battery/caged birds or at the VERY least mark them as 'battery eggs', I’m afraid we will reluctantly be taking our custom elsewhere. Yours respectfully Etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Well put Poet. Indicate that you are copying it to the local rag. That might stir them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Well put Poet. Indicate that you are copying it to the local rag. That might stir them. i might not include my address in that case- what I might do is just give them my phone number and take it from there. If they won't do anything I bet our local rag would take up the story. DH will kill me but I think you have to speak up for what's right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Good idea Egluntine. Thats a great letter,Poet.Polite but firm.....just the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Indicate that you are copying it to the local rag. That might stir them. That is a brilliant idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
