Animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming announced on Tuesday (4^th September) that it would be stripping supermarket chain Morrisons of its Good Egg welfare Commendation over the supermarket’s decision to re-introduce eggs from caged hens across its own brand M-Savers range.

Upon making the announcement, Steve McIvor, Director of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming, said the award had never before been taken away from a retailer, but that the welfare organisaiton had made the decision to encourage Morrisons to “get back on the right track.”

He added, “We are shocked that Morrisons is taking this backward step. It is a negative decision, not only for laying hens, but also for consumers and for Morrisons’ reputation. Consumers do not like caged egg production and Compassion in World Farming shares this view.”

However, the supermarket has responded that it always sold eggs from caged hens, but that they were previously sold under a different brand. This would mean Morrisons was selling caged eggs in 2008, when it was awarded the welfare award by Compassion.  

Compassion said it presented Morrisons with its Good Egg Commendation for the supermarket’s stated commitment to sourcing only free-range eggs across their entire own-branded egg range. The Morrisons spokesperson said it sold caged eggs to cater to the needs of families at a time of rising food process, but is now selling them under its own brand to exert more influence in the supply chain. Condemning the supermarket's response as cynical, Compassion maintained the company’s decision “represents a retrograde step for animal welfare.”

Compassion’s Food Business Director McIvor added, “At a time when other brands across Europe, including Sainsbury’s, McDonald’s, The Co-operative Food are taking positive steps to improve welfare, this is a really surprising and unfortunate decision by Morrisons and goes against the general retail trend.”

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