Britain’s farmers are calling for a 40p price rise on a dozen eggs to avert a shortage crisis and save livelihoods.
The save our eggs plea comes as industry bodies have warned the crippling cost of hen feed is leaving farmers on the brink of going bust as they are losing money on every egg their hens lay.
Figures from the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) reveal feed prices have rocketed by 50% in the last two years while overall production costs have soared by 30% in a year.
Medium size eggs are cheaper now at less than £1 for a box of six compared with £1.35 10 years ago but the low shelf prices are leaving farmers out of pocket, the BEIC said.
Rising animal feed prices - made worse by the war in Ukraine - have added 30p to the cost of producing a dozen eggs, with farmers taking the hit.
Around 15% of farms are said to be at “immediate risk” the BEIC said.
Andrew Joret, chairman of the BEIC added: “The tidal wave of cost increases will see many family farms, some of which have been producing eggs for generations, going under in a matter of days, unless something is done quickly.”
Production has already been hammered after the number of egg laying hens plummeted by four million in a year as farmers cut their losses and stopped production to save their farms.
Mr Joret said: “The situation was unsustainable prior to the terrible war, but feed prices have accelerated dramatically in a way never before seen and farmers cannot absorb these costs and carry on with a viable business.
“Eggs are one of the most undervalued natural whole foods - packed with protein, vitamins and minerals. They provide the whole family with nutritious meals at a fraction of the cost of some other proteins.”
According to research, households want to buy British eggs but unless prices go up, they will be scarce in supermarkets, the BEIC said.
Mr Joret said: “It is our top priority to keep up the usual supply of British eggs, the majority of which are produced to the world leading quality and welfare standards set by the Lion Code, which are enjoyed by so many people around the UK every day.
“However, without rapid recognition of the seriousness of the situation, a significant number of British farmers won’t survive to continue to ensure that one of the nation’s favourite home-produced foods is readily available on the table.”
Along with the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), the BEIC is calling on major UK supermarkets to take “urgent action” and help save the industry by raising prices.
Robert Gooch chief executive at the BFREPA said so far appeals for help have gone unheeded.
He said: “For months we have been raising the desperate situation with all the major retailers, and they have all ignored the perilous position their farmer suppliers are in.
“This is not a false flag - the free range egg sector is in crisis and if something doesn’t change these farms will close and the people who run them will not have an income.
“This is a situation entirely out of farmers’ hands. The whole world can see that feed and energy prices have gone through the roof.
“That has consequences and we believe shoppers will understand the need for the egg price to increase on the shelves.”
.png?w=600)
