Letter: Humane eggs

Sir: In his defence of confining laying hens in battery cages (letter, 24 August), Roger Stratton is clutching at straws by implying that eggs from humane alternatives to cages may pose a risk to public health.

The battery cage causes suffering to hundreds of millions of hens throughout Europe. The recent decision by European agriculture ministers to ban this system from 2012 was made only after wide consultation with experts in poultry health and welfare. Had there been evidence of any threat to food safety , there is little doubt that such a decision would not have been made.

Within Europe, UK egg farmers are at the forefront in producing eggs from free-range and barn systems, with most eggs now coming from farms accredited under the RSPCA's Freedom Food standards. The public can help animal welfare by choosing to buy such eggs.

Dr MARTIN POTTER

Head, Farm Animals Department

RSPCA

Horsham,

West Sussex