April 17, 2000 / PA News / Rachael Crofts, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, PA News
The U.K. Co-op was cited as announcing today its eggs are to be produced
from chickens fed on a diet free from genetically modified ingredients or
artificial colours.
The supermarket said the move away from GM-feed and colourants, which will
initially apply only to the chain's free range eggs, would give yolks a
paler, more natural colour.
Co-op buyer Geoff Cox was cited as saying the society would source its
entire range of eggs from hens fed on a GM-free diet once suitable suppliers
had been found, adding, "Historically, hens free to forage would peck
grasses which would naturally colour their eggs' yolks yellow. The pale
colour of farmed hens' eggs and changing consumer preferences led producers
to add colourants to feed, making yolks more orange in colour. However, we
believe these colourants offer our customers no real benefits and that the
product is all the better for being as nature intended."
(posted without permission)
