One of Australia’s certifiers of ‘free-range’ egg, beef and pork farms has lodged a complaint with the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over the labelling of Primo pork products as ‘RSPCA Free Range.’ The certifying organisation, Humane Choice, claims the RSPCA’s certification of the Primo pork products does not meet consumer expectation of ‘free range’ products, and that the brand is endorsed as free range by the RSPCA, and that the label is ‘misleading’. RSPCA... ...Read more »

Australia’s peak egg body, the Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL), today launched a marketing campaign to promote caged egg production as having the lowest carbon footprint of all the main protein foods. AECL Managing Director, James Kellaway, said the findings of a study undertaken by the AECL suggested that caged eggs are the “highest quality protein food with the lowest emissions”. The AECL study, based on the green house gas emissions from three egg farms over one year, found that... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group CHOICE has renewed calls for a national standard on free range products through Standards Australia and involving industry, government and consumers. CHOICE challenges the Australian Egg Corporation Limited’s (AECL) proposed draft standard which would permit densities of 20,000 chickens per hectare to be certified as free range. CHOICE describes the proposal as “fanciful” and “self-serving”. CHOICE spokesperson Ingrid Just said, “There are... ...Read more »

New ‘free range’ egg production standards for Australia, drafted by the egg industry body, Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL), have caused outrage amongst free range egg farmers. The AECL’s proposed new standards for “free range” eggs is seeking to extend the maximum number of birds per hectare from 1,500 to 20,000, but a spokesperson for the AECL told Australian Food News, “Stocking densities of up to two birds per metre square provide hens with the ability to display all their... ...Read more »

Unilever has announced that two more of its Hellmann’s Mayonnaise products will use 100% cage-free eggs in the United States. Hellmann’s Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise and its Reduced Fat Mayonnaise with Olive Oil have now been transitioned to cage-free eggs, a move that the company says is part of a plan to transition all its recipes to higher-welfare ingredients. “Coming off of last year’s successful launch of Hellmann’s Light with 100 percent cage-free eggs, we are excited... ...Read more »

You may have noticed that consumer behaviour is changing significantly. People are not only demanding better quality food, they are also seeking more information about how their food is produced. The welfare of the animals that give us our food is becoming a key influencer in consumer purchasing decisions. In fact, market research shows around half of grocery buyers would prefer to purchase a humanely farmed product, over a conventionally farmed product. Just like cartons of eggs on the supermarket... ...Read more »

Just when you think we couldn’t know less about where our food comes from, the RSPCA says a revolution is stirring, with people increasingly curious about how and where their food is produced and about the animal that provides it. Bottom line is, consumers are becoming more conscious shoppers. With supermarkets stocking up on higher welfare products, the manufacturing and food service industries are also listening to consumers and looking to source more humanely produced products including cage-free... ...Read more »

UK grocery operator Waitrose has ended its contract with a duck farm accused of animal cruelty. Allegations emerged yesterday (8 February) that workers at Hall Farm picked up ducks by their necks and swung them before throwing them into the flock. A Sky News investigation also discovered sick and injured birds as well as dead birds which had been left to rot among the flock. Hall Farm is contracted to Green Label Farms, which operates Gressingham Foods’ poultry operations. Green Label Farms... ...Read more »

Melbourne has its first fully free-range deli, with the opening of Bezela Foodstore in Carlton. The deli, run by locals Jessica Sissons and Tim Merrett, will stock exclusively free-range produce, with a full spread of cruelty-free deli products. “Unless the animals used for meat and egg production have been raised in a paddock, as they should be, the smallgoods and the meat used in the take-home meals do not make it into the store,” Sissons said. Stocking products from Barossa Fine Foods and... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest free-range chicken producer Lilydale has launched its first processed meat products, with their new premium gluten-free sausage range. The gourmet sausages are available in two varieties, Traditional Chicken and Basil & Sweet Chilli Chicken, retailing at $6.99 for a tray of eight sausages (375 grams), and will be available from Coles (excluding WA), independent supermarkets, Harris Farm Markets and Thomas Dux Grocers. “We think Australians will love our free range... ...Read more »