RSPCA in Horsham raises concerns over imported eggs used by restaurants and cafés

The RSPCA, based in Horsham, is raising concerns over the use of imported eggs in UK restaurants, cafés and pubs, after research suggested many diners are unaware that eggs from hens kept in battery cages can still be served.

RSPCA Assured says 72% of people surveyed did not know that some food venues and manufacturers may use imported eggs from hens kept in lower-welfare conditions which are banned in UK egg production.

Conventional battery cages were banned in the UK in 2012, but imported eggs produced using those systems can still legally be used by restaurants, cafés and food manufacturers.

The research, commissioned by RSPCA Assured and carried out by YouGov, highlighted what the charity describes as a gap between the information available to shoppers buying eggs in supermarkets and what customers are told when eating out.

Food venues are not currently required to tell customers where eggs used in meals or ingredients have come from or how the hens that laid them were kept.

The survey found more than four in five people check egg labels when shopping to see how they were produced, while only 4% said they always ask food venues where their food comes from.

Eight in ten people surveyed said restaurants and other food businesses should be required to tell customers where animal products come from.

Meanwhile, 72% said they would be unlikely to continue eating at a venue if they knew it was using imported lower-welfare eggs.

Toby Baker, executive director at RSPCA Assured, said: “The recent salmonella outbreak and possible link to imported eggs is deeply concerning. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

“This outbreak also brings into focus a separate issue that our research has highlighted - people have very little information about where the eggs they are served when eating out come from or how the hens that laid them were reared.

“The UK has a strong history of clear egg labelling in supermarkets, giving shoppers an informed choice when it comes to eggs - but this is completely lost when we eat out.

“Under the current system, we’re eating in the dark, potentially consuming lower-welfare imported animal products we would never choose ourselves.”

Shell eggs sold in UK supermarkets are stamped with information showing the production method, country of origin and farm.

However, RSPCA Assured says those transparency requirements do not apply in the same way when eggs are used in food service and catering.

The organisation also points to Government figures showing the UK imports significant quantities of shell eggs and processed egg products each year for use in manufacturing and catering.

Mr Baker added: “Our stats speak for themselves; people have no idea this is happening, and the vast majority would choose to eat elsewhere if they knew a restaurant or cafe was using eggs from hens kept in battery cages."

The RSPCA is calling on the Government to include core animal welfare standards in future trade policy and negotiations, arguing that UK welfare requirements should not result in more food being produced overseas to lower standards.

RSPCA Assured says it currently works with around 80% of UK egg producers and a quarter of pig producers who are committed to its higher-welfare standards.

Under the RSPCA Assured scheme, cages are not permitted and hens must be provided with measures including enrichment, opportunities to dustbathe and raised perches.

The organisation is encouraging consumers who choose to eat eggs to look for higher-welfare labels when shopping and to ask food businesses about the sourcing of eggs when eating out.

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