Costa Rica leads with free range eggs
By Lourdes Quijada
COSTA RICA has got the jump on other Central American countries with a hotel resort receiving praise from the International Humane Society (HSI)for implementing a policy of using only “free range” eggs
The hotel joins a global movement to eliminate one of the most controversial practices in animal production: lifetime confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages that are so small that the hens cannot spread their wings. Each bird lives its entire life in a space with a base smaller than a sheet of paper
Although veterinarians, egg producers and animal welfare advocates around the world have criticized theconfinement systems as being extremely cruel, and the systems have been banned by governments in several countries, the use of battery cages is still the norm in egg production in Central America.
” It is very important to Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort that the products we buy from our suppliers are produced in a responsible and sustainable, so we are making a change to eggs produced free of cages,” said Michael Schmid, Anaz General Manager.
Andaz says the resort is concerned about the way animals are treated in food production and are proud to offer more humane products. Andaz supports the elimination of battery cages and believe that confine animals in cages is not sustainable.
Gabriela Ramirez, Campaign Coordinator for Farm Animals in HSI, said: “We congratulate Peninsula Andaz Papagayo Resor. By switching to cage-free Andaz is giving a positive example for other hotels, and look forward to working with other hotels and food companies in similar policies. “
In Costa Rica, the Auto Market, Walmart (Mas x Menos), Fresh Market and Perimercados supermarkets offer eggs produced free of cages, and several restaurants and hotels use only this type of egg.
The use of battery cages for laying hens battery is prohibited throughout the European Union, New Zealand, three states in the United States and Bhutan, India, the third largest egg producer in the world. .