Free-range eggs have for the first time outsold ones from caged hens, official figures show.
Eggs from caged hens were more than twice as popular as free range a decade ago, but millions more shoppers now choose to pay more per egg for hens that are allowed to move between sheds and outdoor areas.
A total of 1.317 billion free-range eggs were produced in the UK between July and September - ten million more than from caged hens.
Battery cages were banned by the EU in 2012 and replaced by “enriched cages”, which are bigger but still hold up to 13 birds per square metre.
The RSPCA said the shift to free-range eggs was “an animal welfare success story”.
The charity added that the result of compulsory labelling since 2004 has required shoppers to be informed on egg boxes if hens were kept in cages.
It called for the method of production to be stated on other animal products to increase consumer demand for higher welfare, including for millions of pigs that spend their entire lives indoors.
Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Marks & Spencer have stopped selling eggs from caged hens.
They are still sold by Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi and Iceland but they have all pledged to sell only “cage free” eggs by 2025.
