The Co-op is to become the latest supermarket to stop selling eggs from battery hens amid a growing consumer backlash over the impact of cheap food on animal welfare.
A Co-op spokeswoman said: "Last November we launched a consultation process with our 2.5 million members on food ethical policy.
"The results of that are going to be announced in the near future, and we will be announcing that we will be withdrawing, with immediate effect, the sale of eggs from caged hens."
She continued: "The majority of our eggs are free range, but the others will be withdrawn, in fact we are already phasing them out."
A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said: "We have already announced that we are going to stop selling eggs from caged hens by the end of 2009."
The Sunday Times said such moves meant that within three years most supermarkets were likely to be selling only eggs from barn, free range and organic hens.
A spokeswoman for Tesco said: "We are actively promoting barn, free range and organic eggs by giving them more shelf space.
"We do serve a broad range of customers, so we will continue to offer a range of standard eggs, which are clearly labelled, so that shoppers can make an informed choice.
"We always listen to our customers, and many of them tell us they are on a tight budget, and rely on us to provide affordable good quality food.
"We have reduced the shelf space given to eggs from caged hens, and we have introduced even clearer marking of eggs from caged hens on the front of packs."
