Although cage keeping has been banned in Austria since 2020, this torturous practice is still common in countries from which eggs are imported. Animal rights activists warn that animal suffering is being imported into the Alpine republic.
Austria imported 24,985 tons of eggs and egg products last year. Half came from Germany, followed by imports from the Czech Republic (2,876 tonnes) and Poland (2,666 tonnes), according to the animal protection organization “Vier Pfoten”, which is calling for more labeling requirements.
In Austria, according to AMA Marketing, there are 7.3 million officially registered laying hens. 4.1 million live on free-range farms, 2.2 million on free-range farms and almost a million on organic farms. According to “Four Paws”, 70 percent of animals in Poland and 56 percent of animals in the Czech Republic are kept in cages. And eggs from these caged chickens played an important role in processed products such as sauces, pasta and pastries
An Austrian eats an average of 248 eggs per year
Eggs are popular in Austria all year round in all their variations and areas of application, AMA Marketing emphasized in a broadcast on Thursday, regardless of “World Egg Day” on Friday (October 11). Accordingly, 248 eggs are consumed per capita per year in this country. Turnover per household increased by 5.3 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023 and by 6.1 percent in value.
According to a study by AMA Marketing (“RollAMA”), 51 percent of eggs sold in food retailers in the first half of 2024 were farm-raised. 37 percent came from conventional free-range farming and 12 percent from organic free-range farming. This illustrates “the continuing trend towards free-range eggs”. About 90 percent of eggs sold on the market carry the AMA quality mark.
According to animal rights activists, every second imported egg is processed or ends up in restaurants. “In 2023 there were 281 million, even more than fresh eggs (251 million),” says “Vier Pfoten”.
40 percent of laying hens in the EU live in cages
In the EU, almost 40 percent of laying hens still live in cages. There are also imports from third countries. Last year, almost 152 tons of eggs were imported from Ukraine and 63 tons of eggs from China, ‘Four Paws’ calculated.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
