Switzerland’s biggest retailer to sell only free-range eggs by 2020
Switzerland’s biggest retailer Migros has announced it will by the end of 2020 sell only eggs from free roaming hens, according to Le Matin Dimanche newspaper.
Migros will sell only eggs from hens that each have access to 2.5 square metres of open field, as well as a covered outdoor winter garden.
This means it will phase out eggs from farms where the hens do not have access to a field, which currently make up 30% of its stock. Migros stopped selling battery farm eggs 20 years ago.
The move is designed both to promote animal welfare and adapt to consumer demand. “Several surveys show that consumers attach a lot of importance to the wellbeing of the animal when they buy eggs,” says a Migros statement.
Not all producers are happy, but the newspaper says this decision is nevertheless in line with a general trend in the industry towards more freedom for laying hens. Nestlé, for example, announced in November that it would stop using eggs from caged hens in any of its products worldwide as of 2025.
Switzerland’s other main supermarket chain Coop told Le Matin Dimanche that it aims to raise the proportion of organic and free-roaming hen eggs in those that it sells, even if it has not yet decided to stop selling anything else. Like Migros, it does not sell battery eggs.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
This content was published on
TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
This content was published on
The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
This content was published on
China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
If parliament refuses to act, it’s the people’s turn
This content was published on
The Swiss parliament recently rejected a motion to ban imports of products involving cruelty to animals, but now the people could have their say.
This content was published on
The agricultural sector is protected through import restrictions and state subsidies, but farmers receive a number of other privileges too.
Swiss supermarkets, not florists, supply ethical roses this Valentine’s
This content was published on
More than 100 million red roses are expected to be sold on the day of love. But many private flower sellers are still slow to embrace fair trade petals.
Swiss companies improve performance in global retail market
This content was published on
Swiss retail giants Migros and Coop have each jumped two spots in Deloitte's annual ranking of the world’s biggest retail companies.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.