Qourn?

No they are not. It is all torture. Have you seen, for example, "The Faces of "Free-Range" Farming"?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Gbq3lkKwY

I know, I don't buy any eggs myself. But when it comes to companies taking steps towards more humane choices.. if a company must have eggs, using free range is a better message. I know it isn't great for the chickens still, but I figure anything that helps eliminate cage eggs is a step in the right direction. Makes it easier to pin point the problem

My reply was really a stab at maccas, how they refuse to even make that change.

If it "isn't great for the chickens", how can it be a step in the right direction? Please, let's start decrying ALL forms of animal exploitation.

It is a step in the right direction. If only more companies boycotted caged eggs.

How is it a step in the right direction? It's an excuse for people to keep consuming animal products and make them feel better about it.

Do you honestly believe everyone is going to give up all animal products? I don't see a problem with people eating eggs as long as the chickens are looked after well. Not saying free range is, but it is a STEP in the right direction. Eggs are a waste product.

The thing is that people are consuming animal products anyway. If someone cares about animal welfare they are going to look in to it and they will stop eating shop eggs alltogether. But not everyone is going to go vegan, so it is a step in the right direction to improve standards. That is only ever a bad thing if the world goes vegan. Which I don't see happening overnight. So a company that embraces a higher welfare product over the standard is doing better than nothing.

My mum was all excited when she saw this stuff on the current affair show, I think she's a bit sick of making me the same dal and veggie lasagne everytime we go for dinner!

I think that if we all write letters to the company requesting a vegan option, maybe they will consider, surely they are aware of the alternatives to milk and eggs, whatcha all think?

The FIRST STEP i took towards veganism was to boycott cage eggs.
I then stopped eating meat.
I started buying vegan only cosmetics.
I learnt about animal rennet, & refused any cheese that contained it.
I stopped wearing/using leather, sheepskin, silk, or any similar item where the animal was killed directly to produce that product.
Then i stopped eating dairy & honey, & stopped wearing wool.
I now live a 100% vegan lifestyle (to the best of my knowledge).

I also know people who have gone through a similar process of change to me, though not all of them have reached the same state of change as i have. And that is not to say that they won't, but they need to reach that stage in their own time.

We can't force change, & when we try to, we run the risk of creating even more division among 'us' & 'them'. We can 'scare off' people who might otherwise embark on a similar path of change to me, or alienate ourselves as veg(etari)ans.

The people i know personally, who have taken (& continue to take) steps towards a more compassionate lifestyle, are those who i have educated, gently & with patience, on the issues at hand. I cook & share vegan food with everyone, & teach them recipes. I introduce them to cruelty-free products. Leading by example is one of the most effective things - i don't preach to people, but if they ask why i refuse to buy leather shoes, or eat that piece of cake, then i tell them. I talk to them about the animal welfare, environmental, & health impact of their diets, & because i just giving them the information & not telling them what to do with it, they listen to me. Once they have the information, most of them decide to make different choices about consuming/using animal products.

Whereas when you 'attack' people, their defences switch to high, & they will either refuse to listen to what you have to say, or not absorb it. A gentle & patient approach, with a firm & unwavering commitment to veganism, seems to be the most effective approach for me when i am trying to help people make change.

I in no way saying that it is not worth a continual push for, though i know there has been a strong & consistent push from consumers for years in the UK to make Quorn vegan.
The response is pretty much the same though - they 'need' the egg as a binder.
While i'm sure it would take them more effort, & perhaps the product would not be entirely the same, i'm sure an alternative could be found.
And really, it would make good business sense for them to invest in finding out, because imagine how popular Quorn would be it if were vegan! Not only for vegans, but for people with allergies & intolerences too.