Since the beginning of November, free-range chickens remain confined to prevent the appearance of new outbreaks of avian flu in Spain. The measure will remain in force for a whileparticularly due to the fear of migratory species from Eastern Europe. Once it is determined that there is no longer a danger to poultry, the restrictions will be lifted, as explained in Economic information sources from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
In this context, the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) asked marketing companies to provide adequate information on labeling, because free-range eggs “are no longer free-range eggs at the moment”, which is not being done, as the OCU verified in 7 brands sold in supermarkets.
“At present, The consumer pays a 27% surcharge for eggs with added value (access of laying hens to the open air) has temporarily disappeared”, underlined the OCU in a press release, which ensures that “While a dozen free-range eggs now cost 3.25 euros, free-range eggs cost 4.13 euros”. In addition, the prices of these products “have reached historic highs since the first news of the poultry crisis in the United States, accumulating an increase of 1 euro per dozen since then.”
This organization recognizes that “European regulations – Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2465 and Regulation (EU) 2018/848 – allows labeling to be maintained without modifying the packaging or informing the consumereven when breeding conditions have changed radically for health reasons.
However, the OCU considers this “goes against the right to truthful information, essential pillar of food safety and market transparency” and that “the excuse of the cost of modifying the boxes is unfounded, since the code is printed on the shell (0 for organic, 1 for free range) and is an automatic marking which could be updated without significant economic impact”.
“This situation also raises a serious question about price fairness and reinforces the idea that the consumer pays for a feature that no longer exists“, declares this group, which claims to have contacted the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to insist on corrective measures and control of commercial margins, although it has not yet received a response.
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