Two major UK supermarkets, Sainsbury’s and The Co-operative, have demonstrated their willingness to change with consumer demand by making commitments which will improve the welfare of millions of hens and chickens.

The Co-operative has ended the sale of eggs from caged hens, saving over half a million hens from cages while Sainsbury's are moving away from stocking the most intensively farmed chickens, which will improve the lives of 70 million birds. These are both huge steps forward for animal welfare.

The Co-operative's Eggs

Already free-range on its own label eggs, The Co-operative has decided to go further by going free-range across all the whole eggs it sells. The Co-operative now joins M&S and Waitrose in ending the sale of eggs from caged hens. The Co-operative has also set a target of 2010 for being cage-free on egg ingredient in all own label products.

This major move follows the results of The Co-operative's largest ever survey of shoppers' ethical concerns which identified animal welfare as a priority issue by 25% of its members.

Compassion in World Farming Food Policy Manager, Rowen West-Henzell said: 'This is tremendous news. The Co-operative has already demonstrated its animal welfare credentials by coming in the top three in our recent supermarket survey and will now be well on its way to winning one of our Good Egg Awards this spring.'

Sainsbury's Chicken

The supermarket giant has announced a move away from stocking the most intensive factory-farmed chickens across its fresh and frozen meat range and will instead adopt Freedom Food standard or equivalent as the minimum.

"This will dramatically improve the lives of 70 million chickens every year and is one of the most significant moves in farm animal welfare in the UK." Dr. Lesley Lambert, Compassion in World Farming Director of Food Policy

Freedom Food or equivalent standards ensure more space, environmental enrichment such as straw bales and slower-growing birds which are less susceptible to lameness and heart failure.

Caring can be rewarding

The Co-operative was commended at last year's Good Egg Awards for only selling cage-free own label eggs. Its move, to ban caged eggs altogether, will guarantee The Co-operative a nomination for a full Good Egg Award in April 2008.

In December 2007, Sainsbury's won two categories in Compassion in World Farming's Supermarket Awards for their welfare standards and commitment to improvements, particularly for laying hens.

Shopping compassionately is the most important step you can take. If you can afford it, a regular monthly donation will help Compassion in World Farming tackle intensive, inhumane chicken farming - the biggest cause of farm animal cruelty on the planet.

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