Something is rotten in the state of NSW egg production

Consumer watchdog Choice has lodged a ‘super-complaint’ with NSW Fair Trading regarding free-range egg claims in NSW.

Choice’s research found that free-range eggs sell for up to double the price of cage eggs and almost one-fifth more than barn eggs. Despite the price premium, Choice says consumers can’t be confident they’re getting what they pay for because there is no consistency in standards for free-range claims.

While the national Model Code of Practice stipulates that free-range egg production should have a maximum outdoor stocking density of 1500 hens per hectare, this is purely voluntary. The Egg Corporation has attempted - unsuccessfully - to introduce a limit of 20,000 hens per hectare and admitted that 29% of ‘free-range’ production exceeds this density. Choice says this suggests that the majority of free-range production would have a stocking density between 1500 and 20,000 hens per hectare.

Choice has asked NSW Fair Trading to investigate whether free-range claims are genuine and take action when products don’t meet consumer expectations. NSW Fair Trading has 90 days to respond to the super-complaint.

Choice’s super-complaint is available to download here.