Battery Hens: The Voluntary Campaign
The main thrust of the voluntary campaign should be a public awareness campaign to educate
consumers about the welfare problems of egg production in battery cages, and the realities of
alternative production systems. The aim should be to bring about a change in consumer buying
habits, which could include the giving up egg consumption entirely, the eating of fewer eggs,
and/or the boycott of battery eggs (taking eggs from alternative systems, such as free range,
instead). In order to do this, it is necessary to disseminate information (including photographs,
footage and facts) about different production systems and egg labelling (the realities behind
given labels, including misleading labelling).
As consumer awareness increases, these consumers should be mobilised to call for better
consumer information in relation to egg sales (accurate labelling and advertising to enable
informed consumer choice), as well as improved standards of animal welfare for laying hens
(in all systems). Consumer groups and consumer 'watchdog' programmes could be most helpful
in this regard. See also Battery Hens Campaign: Resources
Available and Battery Hens Campaign Images.
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