Dutch retailer Jumbo has announced that it is to launch 'Respeggt'-certified eggs in all supermarkets in the country, in the end of March.
The packaging will bear the 'Respeggt' logo and individual eggs will also be stamped for easy identification.
'Respeggt' certification ensures that the eggs have undergone a gender identification test, thereby confirming that the supply chain does not involve the culling of male chicks.
Every year, around 40 million roosters are killed in the Netherlands after hatching as they have no role in the egg chain or meat production, the retailer said.
'Animal Welfare'
Olaf de Boer, commercial director at Jumbo, said, "Animal welfare is high on the agenda at Jumbo and we are constantly looking for ways to improve it further. Many people don't know that so many roosters are killed in the egg chain."
The gender-testing technology, developed by HatchTech, interrupts the hatching process of eggs that will yield roosters. These eggs are then diverted for animal feed.
Co'tje Admiraal, general director of de Dierenbescherming, said, "Dierenbescherming [The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals] has always found it very painful that roosters are killed immediately when they are born.
"We therefore warmly welcome that Jumbo - in addition to the Beter Leven quality mark on all eggs - makes this solution available. We hope that other retailers follow the example."
In September of last year, Rewe Group added 'Respeggt'-certified free-range eggs to 1,350 Rewe and Penny stores in Germany.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
