Free range, do you?

[21TonyK]

We switched over to free range chicken and eggs at work last year.

When you go out to eat are you look for free range? Are you happy to pay a little extra for it, ie. £1-2 on a dish?

Is free range a selling point to you or are you not that bothered?

At home we use free range eggs but as I suspect most people do, Co-op two for £7 chickens often win.

[LordGrover]

I get mine at a local 'farm' - you know the types; Tarquin & Jucinda retired to the country after making a wedge in the city. Living the Good Life selling organic fowl & pig.
Very good stuff but expensive compared to supermarket/butcher despite no middle man.

[randlemarcus]

Bothered, but slightly cynical, given that a fair few supermarket free range eggs look and taste quite like battery eggs.

Is free range now one of those defined terms that mean something completely different?

[Adenauer]

Yes, but I never by the 'cheap' free range stuff as I don't trust it.

[LordGrover]

You're right to be cynical: BBC.

[Shaw Tarse]

There are a few PHers who keep chickens so get proper fresh eggs.

[randlemarcus]

Shaw Tarse said:

There are a few PHers who keep chickens so get proper fresh eggs.

Had them. Now have eggs helicoptered in from Harrods, as it is cheaper

[grumbledoak]

I buy both free range chicken and eggs in the supermarket (I couldn't give a toss about 'organic'). Would pay £1 or £2 extra for free range chicken in a restaurant but I wouldn't expect to pay more for free range eggs (they can take the 20p from the extra £1 I would pay).

[Melman Giraffe]

I personally think Provenance is more important rather than just claiming it to be free range

Edited by Melman Giraffe on Wednesday 27th February 15:41

[Pothole]

I can't afford to be bothered.

[Bullett]

I'm not looking for free range but if I was paying good money it would be my expectation that it was free range.
My local curry place uses good quality (I'm not sure if FR I'll ask next time) and said they had made a concious decision to go for quality ingredients. This has paid off as they are always busy. Another place very close uses cheaper meat and you can really tell. They have constant specials and the place is still not as busy.

So I don't think FR is as important as the quality of the meat.

I use FR if I'm doing a roast or it's the main element but for pies/fajitas etc I'll use a less ethical ingredient.

I had my own chickens for years (until a fox got them) I am struggling with the concept of buying eggs, rather than food, bedding, vets bills etc.

[condor]

I always buy free range eggs - usually from the market, sometimes from outside farms via honesty boxes or farm shops.
Whole chickens, I'm not too bothered, as long as they're British.

[Shaw Tarse]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

So - the question I would like to ask back is, whether the 'Free Range' move is for flavour, ethics, or cash purposes ?

Didn't free range/ organic food drop in popularity as people's purse strings got tighter?

[V8mate]

Can you buy eggs which aren't free range in the UK any more?

[otolith]

Free range chickens from the local butcher. Free range eggs from wherever.

[Output Flange]

V8mate said:

Can you buy eggs which aren't free range in the UK any more?

Yes, but the boxes are labelled as battery hens.

I always buy free range eggs and chickens. Partly because it seems like the right thing to do, and partly because if I didn't, the OH would go spastic at me. And the cats prefer it, too.

[V8mate]

Output Flange said:

V8mate said:

Can you buy eggs which aren't free range in the UK any more?

Yes, but the boxes are labelled as battery hens.

Hmmn. I thought we'd stopped them.

[Output Flange]

V8mate said:

Hmmn. I thought we'd stopped them.

[V8mate]

Output Flange said:

V8mate said:

Hmmn. I thought we'd stopped them.

Is caged the same as battery? Didn't the birds/sq m thingy change?

[Output Flange]

V8mate said:

Is caged the same as battery? Didn't the birds/sq m thingy change?

Either way, they're not free range.