What is the meaning of free-range eggs?
All eggs sold in the UK must be stamped with the method of production: 0=organic, 1= free-range, 2=barn, 3=caged and this must also be stated on the eggs box. When you see the British Lion symbol on your box of eggs, this tells you that the eggs are British-laid and that the laying hens have been vaccinated against salmonella.
Free range-eggs vs organic eggs
Much like free-range hens, organic hens enjoy unlimited access to outdoor pastures during the daytime. At night, organic hens are housed in barns that contain no more than six hens per square metre. The maximum number of hens that can be kept in an organic free-range flock is 3,000.
Free-range eggs
Free-range eggs have come from birds that, during the daytime, enjoy unlimited access to outdoor pastures.
At night, free-range hens are housed in barns which keep them safe. This also allows them to express normal behaviour with perches for roosting and a maximum of nine hens per square meter of usable inside space. For free-range hens, the maximum flock size on an RSPCA Assured farm is 16,000 birds.
Free-range hens must be provided with litter to allow the hens to perform natural behaviours, and which covers at least one-third of the floor surface.