Newcastle Council introduces animal cruelty-free food policy

Jul 2 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

The council is also set to consider the introduction of organic milk but only after consultation about its benefits has been examined.

Coun Peter Allen, Chair of Newcastle City Council’s Procurement Committee, said: “I am delighted this policy is being adopted by the council and we are committed to providing food for customers and staff which has been ethically sourced and is cruelty free. We are also working with our suppliers to ensure that our food can reduce the council’s carbon footprint.

“If adopted this will be a massive step for the council to take, but we would like to encourage all businesses to look at how they sourced the food they provide to their own customers.”

At a ceremony last night the council received a Good Egg award for committing to ditch the battery eggs in favour of eggs from free-range hens.

The switch will ensure more than 300 hens supplying 84,500 eggs each year will be spared a life of misery in a cage.

Coun Henri Murison, Labour’s environment spokesman, collected the award on the city council’s behalf. He said: “Animal welfare is something everyone should think about when they make their weekly visit to the supermarket, so I am delighted the city council is taking a lead in this important issue by sourcing all its eggs ethically.”

The Good Egg Awards have been developed by Compassion in World Farming to reward the commitment of companies and public sector organisations to stop using eggs from battery caged hens.