Ministers finally to decide on 'free range' standard

We understand that all State Ministers for Consumer Affairs/Fair Trading will meet this Friday (June12) to decide on a standard or legal definition for free range egg production. If they reach agreement, the standard will apply nationally. It is not known what drafts have been prepared for the Ministers to consider, but it is hoped that any enforceable standard will be based on the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals (Domestic Poultry)which sets limits on stocking densities and prohibits beak trimming as a normal procedure. It will be useful if the standard reflects the voluntary standard in South Australia, and the Federal Court ruling on free range egg production.

Eggs shouldn't need to be washed

We are often asked if our eggs are washed. The answer is NO. There is no need for eggs to be washed on a properly managed farm.If nest boxes and sheds are clean, and there is no build-up of mud and manure around sheds, the eggs will be clean. But the problem is massive in barns housing many thousands of birds.Many of the eggs will be laid on floor, in manure perhaps a foot deep. More than 95% of eggs sold in Victoria are washed – but the process which is claimed to reduce bacterial entry into the eggs can actually increase the risk of contamination.

The washing process is often poorly supervised, but there are approved chemicals and quantities which are supposed to be used.

Chlorine based detergent is recommended in all egg washers.
In the right concentrations it can be effective in removing debris and microorganisms from the shell of the egg,
Quaternary ammonia based products are used for
final sanitation and a defoamer is added to control excessive foam in the washer

The active ingredients in the sanitiser which is residual on the egg shell surface are:
1-OCTANAMINIUM, N,N-DIMETHYL-N-OCTYL-, CHLORIDE

ALKYL(C12-16)DIMETHYLBENZYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE

DIDECYLDIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE


This pesticide is used as a:

• DISINFECTANT
• FUNGICIDE
• FUNGICIDE/FUNGISTAT
• SANITIZER
• VIRUCIDE and is commonly found on the shells of most eggs – even from organic farms.
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