Published 14/12/2007

On 13 December, Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall presented the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone with a Good Egg award on behalf of Compassion in World Farming.

The award recognises the Mayor's triumph in ensuring the use of free-range eggs and chicken by catering contractors at City Hall and urging the functional bodies of the Greater London Authority, such as the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, to do the same.

The Mayor now joins the likes of Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Starbucks, Google, Sky, Microsoft and the House of Commons as winners of a Good Egg Award. These are awarded in recognition for sourcing eggs from free-range or barn hens instead of caged hens.

The House of Commons led the way for cage-free catering in government authorities, receiving its Good Egg Award in March this year. Subsequently, a number of local councils have gone cage-free following Compassion in World Farming's Cage-free Councils campaign.

Accepting the award, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said, "Compassion in World Farming and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall are to be commended for raising awareness on the issue. I am happy to support this campaign to encourage Londoners to choose free-range chickens and eggs as we are already doing at City Hall."

The changes at City Hall follow work carried out by the Mayor with Jenny Jones, Chair of London Food and Green Party Member of the London Assembly.

Jenny Jones told us, "If we are going to eat chicken and eggs we should at least ensure they come from free-range sources. It is re-assuring that the Mayor is happy to suggest the free-range policy currently at City Hall is extended to other Greater London Authority bodies and to support me in my work towards ensuring all poultry products are free range at the Olympics."

Hugh's Chicken Out Campaign

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Chicken Out campaign is encouraging people to purchase free-range chickens instead of chickens that are raised in intensive conditions.

Speaking at the award presentation in London, Hugh told us, "When it comes to animal welfare, poultry is in the front line. It's time to stop intensive factory farming of broiler chickens and laying hens, and I'm delighted that London will be leading the way. I'm pleased to present this Good Egg Award on behalf of Compassion in World Farming. Well done City Hall and Ken Livingstone."

For more information on the Good Egg Awards visit www.goodeggawards.com