Coles, Woolworths delay caged egg phase out

A national egg shortage has forced Coles and Woolworths to backtrack on their promise to phase out caged eggs “by 2025”.

Sixteen avian influenza outbreaks have created an egg shortage that has forced Coles and Woolworths to delay their phase out of caged eggs.

Woolworths and Coles have delayed their long-promised phase out of caged eggs from their stores “by 2025”, subtly amending the commitment to sometime “in 2025”.

Both retail giants have denied shifting the goalposts, but Victorian Farmers Federation egg group vice president Tony Nesci said most Australians understood “by 2025” meant January 1, not sometime later in the year.

For the past decade both retail giants have repeatedly stated they would phase out caged eggs by 2025, with Woolworths even winning a Compassion in World Farming good egg award for its commitment.

But the supermarkets have subtly changed the language used around the “by 2025” deadline in the wake of a national egg shortage, following this year’s 16 avian influenza outbreaks that led to the destruction of two million chickens.

Woolworths’ animal welfare policy website states “we continue to make progress towards our commitment that by 2025, all vendor brand shell eggs products will be cage-free”.

Yet when asked if it could meet its “by 2025” deadline, a Woolworths’ spokeswoman shifted tack, stating “at this time, we remain on track to meet our cage-free goal across our egg range by the end of 2025”.

Most Australians understood “by 2025” meant January 1, not sometime later in the year, says VFF egg group vice-president Tony Nesci.

Coles’ sustainability website stated “we are making progress to phase out all caged shell eggs in store by 2025”.

When quizzed on the issue, a Coles’ spokesman said “we continue to work closely with our egg suppliers on our commitment to phasing out all cage shell eggs nationally in 2025 – in line with the retail industry’s target”.

Mr Nesci said there was still a huge egg shortage, making it impossible for Coles and Woolworths to phase out caged eggs.

“Do you think they are going to leave their shelves empty of eggs?,” Mr Nesci said. “They can’t afford to lose that amount of business (as) it would cost them millions.”

Caged egg producers say business is booming in the wake of the H7 high pathogenicity avian influenza outbreaks, which started in free-range flocks that came in contact with infected wild birds.

“The more birds they put outside the greater the risk,” Mr Nesci said.

He said the situation would be far worse if the high pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza that has swept the globe reached Australian shores.