Supermarkets accused of ripping off customers on eggs

Consumer watchdog Choice has accused supermarkets of misleading customers on free range eggs, saying many brands don’t meet shoppers’ expectations.

The government amended rules around what constitutes “free range” last year, agreeing that chickens needed to have “meaningful and regular” access to the outdoors, and that there must be no more than one hen per square metre (10,000 hens per hectare) outdoors.

However, these standards are in stark contrast to those in the European Union and New Zealand, which state there should be no more than 2,500 birds per hectare.

Choice spokesperson Tom Godfrey says Australia’s standards are not good enough for shoppers or chickens.

The organisation has launched an app called CluckAR that allows shoppers to scan egg cartons in-store to see whether or not they are up to scratch.

The was national outrage last year after it was revealed supermarkets and suppliers had been using the free rage label on eggs that had come from farms using the one hen per square metre rule.

Aldi, Coles and Woolworths all faced backlash from shoppers who threatened to boycott the supermarkets until they stopped stocking eggs from hens raised under the tight conditions.

While the major supermarkets committed to phasing out caged eggs, Choice said the 10,000 hens per hectare rule defined the “common sense test” and that chickens hardly had enough room to move around in this space.

However, farmers have fought back saying there is scientific evidence the birds can be happy and healthy in that density.

The Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack said all egg cartons must display the hen density on the box so customers could more easily determine whether or not they were free range.

“As Minister responsible for consumer affairs, my role is to ensure consumers know what they are buying and get what they were promised.

“This is the focus of the information standard which will be released following extensive consultation in coming weeks. It is all about making sure consumers have the information they need to make informed choices.

“Consistent with the decision made by Consumer Affairs Ministers on 31 March 2016, the information standard will require the stocking density to be prominently displayed on the label. Consumers can use this information to determine which eggs they wish to purchase.”

Do you buy free range eggs? Or are they too expensive for you?