A SHORTAGE of free-range eggs in Britain is believed to have encouraged the suspected scam revealed by The Times yesterday in passing off produce from factory farms as the welfare-friendly egg.

Chickens have been affected by the hot weather in the summer and autumn and they have laid fewer eggs.

The demand for free-range eggs is also growing by 10 per cent a year but farmers say that they cannot afford the necessary investment to expand their businesses.

In two weeks, therefore, Somerfield will be the first supermarket in the country to switch to selling French free-range eggs. Tesco is also understood to be lining up suppliers on the Continent if it is not able to guarantee supplies at home. Other supermarkets are also worrying about what to do. Somerfield is insisting that the French free-range eggs will be produced to strict European welfare and safety standards and will also come from flocks that have been vaccinated against salmonella.

John Widdowson, a free-range egg farmer from Devon, expressed his anger at the use of French egg suppliers: “Obviously, if it was proved correct yes, we are outraged — it is just totally unacceptable.”

Many farmers wish to expand their free-range operations but have been held up as they wait for planning permission, and newcomers are being put off by the high level of cash investment needed.

The cost of opening a free-range unit can be as much as £500,000.

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