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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)
Public urged to choose cakes made with free range eggs

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.”

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.