According to EuropeanVoice.com, European Union rules to improve the conditions of battery hens are being blamed for record egg prices in some member states, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia. That has led to “alarming shortages” of eggs and egg-based products, according to Caobisco, the association of the chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industries of Europe.

The organisation said that many suppliers of eggs have not being fulfilling their orders, leading to the closure of production lines and cancelled shifts at factories. It said that the situation is so bad that some firms have had to buy eggs from supermarkets in order to keep working.

Caobisco said supply shortages have led to the price of eggs in the EU rising by 75 per cent over the past six months, with “dramatic consequences” for the confectionery industry.

The EU introduced a ban on battery cages on 1 January, meaning that the trade of eggs from poultry farms that have not installed larger cages is no longer permitted.