Nearly 75% Of British Shoppers Incorrectly Think Farmed Chickens Are No Longer Caged

A recent poll conducted by animal rights group Viva! found that nearly three-quarters of British shoppers mistakenly believe that farmed chickens are no longer caged in the UK. Despite the 2012 EU-wide ban on traditional battery cages, many old-fashioned factory farming systems have been replaced by enriched colony cages, where a single cage can hold up to 80 birds in a space smaller than an A4 piece of paper. Approximately 7.3 million egg-laying hens are confined in these cages at any given time, producing 17 percent of the UK's eggs while being unable to perform natural behaviors.

Viva!'s new poll aims to raise awareness of caged hens and pressure the government to phase out enriched colony cages. While 94 percent of those aware of the practice find it unacceptable, there is a widespread lack of transparency in the egg industry, obscuring the harsh realities of chicken farming from consumers. The campaign underscores the need for more information and transparency to allow consumers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase.