Limited access to a computer today — I’m visiting family in NJ and the power isn’t back yet. Working by generator today, so I’ll make it brief!
If you are one of the majority of Americans who purchase their eggs at a store, you may have questions about which eggs to buy, and why. What are “free-range” and “cage-free”? Here’s a little primer to help you understand the facts behind the labels:
FREE-RANGE chickens roam freely outdoors. The amount and type of outdoor access are unspecified, as is the type of feed. If you happen to be lucky enough to know who cares for these chickens, you’ll know the answers to these questions. Beak cutting is, technically, permitted.
ORGANIC eggs with the “USDA Organic” seal come from chickens that have outdoor access, no matter how little. The amount of outdoor time is not specified. By the way, the USDA Organic seal is the only official, federally regulated egg label claim. These chickens eat only organic, vegetarian, antibiotic-free feed. Note: Chickens are not vegetarian by nature; bugs and worms are a vital part of their diet. Beak cutting is, technically, permitted.
CAGE-FREE chickens are uncaged with unlimited access to food and water, but they have no outdoor access unless specified. Cage-free chickens may be packed tightly into a large, unlit shed with no access to a farmyard. Beak cutting is permitted.
CERTIFIED HUMANE chickens live in barns or warehouses without access to the outdoors unless specified. Regulations exist to limit the population density and permit normal behaviors. Beak cutting is, technically, permitted.
ANIMAL-WELFARE APPROVED chickens are raised by independent family farmers with flocks of up to 500 chickens. They spend unlimited time outdoors on pesticide-free pasture. Beak cutting is NOT permitted. Eggs from these farms are most commonly found at specialty or health food stores, or at farmers’ markets.
UNITED EGG PRODUCERS CERTIFIED specifies only that caged hens receive food and water. That would, naturally, be the case if hens are to remain alive and laying.
Finally, the following terms are unregulated and have no official meaning: Natural. Naturally Raised. No Hormones. No Antibiotics.
I recommend purchasing eggs with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids, gained from better quality feed, and that you buy “Animal Welfare Approved” and/or “Free Range” eggs if you can find them. When it comes to eggs, don’t hesitate to buy the more expensive ones. If you do the math, even the most expensive eggs at my local supermarket, at $4/dozen, still work out to only 34 cents an egg. That’s some of the cheapest high-quality protein around.
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