Letter: Free range

MARTIN PITT is not the only farmer producing ``genuine'' free-range eggs (``How free is a 'free-range' hen?'', 27 November) but appears to be the only one to do so with such a flair for publicity.

For the record, my company packs and distributes approximately 2.5 million free-range eggs each week. Most of these are sold through major supermarkets. The eggs are produced by more than 80 independent farmers who are committed to the welfare of their stock and production of a high-quality product.

These producers do not stock their hens at 25 per square metre and cut off hens' beaks that fail to provide nests.

P Challands

Deans Farm Ltd

Tring, Hertfordshire