UK Consumer Attitudes Towards the Egg Industry

UK Consumer Attitudes Towards the Egg Industry

Findings from Bryant Research’s 2023 Annual Survey – a nationally representative survey of 1,000 people across the UK on animal agriculture and food choices.

October 2023

“One of the topics we explored in Bryant Research’s 2023 Annual Survey was attitudes towards the egg industry, and in particular, the prospect of in-ovo egg sex testing. The findings reveal broad support for the use of sex testing as an alternative to the slaughter of newly hatched male chicks. – Charlotte Flores & Billy Nicholles

Context

The egg industry remains ethically contentious, in part due to its practice of slaughtering male chicks upon hatching. Male chicks are not able to lay eggs, and are considered too costly to raise for their meat – they are largely considered an ‘unwanted byproduct’ of industrial egg farming. In the UK, an estimated 29 million newly hatched male chicks are slaughtered each year.

The predominant slaughter method in the UK is inert gas, although maceration is also permitted, usually as a back-up method of slaughter. Male chicks are generally slaughtered within 72 hours of hatching.

Whilst some countries, including France and Germany, have banned the culling of male chicks, it is still standard practice in the UK. Various alternatives to the mass culling of male chicks have been suggested, including the use of in-ovo sex testing, which has advanced rapidly in recent years.

In-ovo sexing: the process of determining the sex of a developing chick inside the egg before it hatches

Determining the sex of an egg embryo at an early stage of development removes the need for male chick culling, with terminated male chick eggs usually used as animal feed, in pharmaceuticals or vaccinations, or destroyed. Some have argued that the technology brings with it its own set of concerns, including the possibility that embryonic chicks feel pain. However, it is generally regarded as preferable to the mass culling of male chicks after hatching.

Findings

1 Widespread lack of information regarding the practice of male chick culling.

In this survey, fewer than half of all respondents – just 41% – correctly identified that male chicks were killed upon hatching, with the majority of respondents being unsure or incorrect about the treatment of male chicks.

2 A significant majority of respondents uncomfortable with the practice of male chick culling

A significant majority of respondents – 82% – were uncomfortable with the practice of male chick culling, with almost half reporting feeling ‘very uncomfortable’. Only 1 in 10 respondents reported feeling any level of comfort related to the practice. This corresponds with findings from our previous survey, demonstrating that most consumers find a variety of standard industry practices in animal agriculture to be unacceptable.

Comfortability of chick culling practices

3 Broad support for in-ovo sexing as an alternative to culling of male chicks

The survey also finds broad support for the adoption of in-ovo egg sexing in the UK as a replacement to the culling of male chicks after hatching.

77% of respondents supported the adoption of this technology, and only 5% of respondents disagreed with its adoption. In the absence of an outright ban of male chick culling, these findings should demonstrate to retailers the strong demand for a speciality egg category that assures the absence of the practice.

Impact & Recommendations

This data demonstrates clear disquiet from the public towards the mass killing of male chicks in the egg industry, and broad agreement with the adoption of in-ovo egg sexing as an alternative to this practice.

For Campaigners & Advocacy Groups

A lesson we can learn from countries which have implemented chick-culling bans is that the alternative fate of those chicks is not necessarily good. In many cases, the male chicks are instead used for meat production, often in intensive systems, which arguably increases and extends their suffering. Campaigns to outlaw male chick culling should consider these consequences carefully.

Nevertheless, in-ovo sexing technology is becoming increasingly available, particularly from countries where nationwide bans are being implemented. Consumer demand for eggs free from chick culling is strong, and extra costs so far appear marginal: in Germany, prices rose by only 2 cents per egg following the ban. These findings therefore support increased adoption of in-ovo egg sexing technology as an alternative to male chick culling.

For retailers

Indeed, the extent of this support should act as a signal to egg retailers in the UK to provide a new category of eggs certified as free from male chick culling.

For Government & Policy

The data also makes a compelling case for a government ban of male chick culling in the UK. Here, it is important to learn from countries which have already implemented nationwide bans. For example, whilst Germany has successfully outlawed this practice domestically, it has had some undesirable consequences. These include the relocation of such practices to other countries without bans.

To correct for this possibility, governments should implement tariffs or bans on imported eggs for which male chicks are culled. This would protect and reward high domestic animal welfare standards, and incentivize the production of cull-free eggs abroad.

It is worth noting that, while the World Trade Organisation has typically prevented such bans from taking place, the body ruled in 2013 that the European Union was permitted to ban imports of seal products, stating ‘concerns about animal welfare can be a legitimate reason to restrict trade under the ‘public morals’ safe harbor in WTO law’. Therefore, there is a precedent for restricting imports on this basis.

To reduce overall harm to animals, governments should support egg producers in the adoption of in-ovo egg sexing.