regional district takes stand on eggs
Author:
Kelly Sinoski
Publication:
The Vancouver Sun
Publication Date:
March 3, 2009
Metro Vancouver will encourage restaurants, caterers and the public to support a regional stand against caged egg production by choosing free-range or certified organic eggs wherever possible.
The regional district agreed Friday to support a motion to encourage Metro Vancouver residents, as well as both privately and publicly run restaurants, to offer free-range eggs.
The idea, Richmond Coun. Harold Steves said, is to push chicken and egg farmers to run more humane operations. The request came from the Vancouver Humane Society, but Steves said the public is already demanding free-range eggs because they taste better, have more vitamins and are free of chemicals.
Metro will send letters to the provincial and federal governments and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency highlighting its decision. It has also adopted the use of free-range eggs for its cafeteria at its Burnaby
headquarters.
The swap will cost the cafeteria an extra 15 cents per free-range egg, Steves said. A certified organic egg would cost 25 cents more than a conventional egg, according to a Metro report.
Thirteen municipalities across Canada -- including Richmond and Vancouver -- have already passed similar resolutions, while Pitt Meadows has opted to express its opposition to battery cages.
The B.C. Egg Marketing Board didn't return phone calls Friday.
