Hen welfare charity backs ethical chocolate cakes
About 60 per cent of eggs laid by caged hens are snuck into processed foods such as cakes. (Stock photo)
The British Hen Welfare Trust has listed some ethical chocolate cakes that contain only free range eggs, ahead of International Chocolate Cake Day on 27 January.
About 60 per cent of eggs laid by caged hens are snuck into processed foods including cakes, quiches and pasta, the charity warns.
Consumers are being urged to check ingredients lists to ensure they are not inadvertently eating eggs from caged hens. As a general rule, if ‘free range’ isn’t stated in the list of ingredients, the eggs will be caged or barn.
In honour of this year’s International Chocolate Cake Day, the BHWT recommends a few cakes containing free range eggs:
- Sainsbury’s Belgian Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Tesco Finest White Chocolate and Strawberry Cake
- ASDA Extra Special Hand Finished Salted Caramel & Chocolate Cake
- Morrisons The Best Chocolate Cake
The charity also draws attention to a number of cakes that are made with eggs from caged hens:
- Galaxy Chocolate Cake Bars
- Thornton’s Triple Layer Chocolate Birthday Cake
- Cadbury Crunchie Cake
- Mr Kipling Choc Chip Cake Slices
Around 16 million hens are kept in colony cages in the UK, according to BHWT, which has so far found retirement homes for over 600,000 caged birds that were destined for slaughter.
Founder of the trust, Jane Howorth MBE, said: “It’s disappointing some chocolate cake manufacturers still use eggs from caged hens. By making an ethical decision on your chocolate cake you will not only be able to enjoy it guilt-free but you will make the world of difference to the hen that helped to create it.”
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
