Free Range Eggs
If you’ve read any of our past blog posts you know that eggs are indeed a perfect source of protein and other essential nutrients. No longer are yolks vilified by “health experts” and we have all been given the green light to enjoy the whole egg.
But when it comes time to buy eggs, there are so many options it can become confusing to know which is best for our health. There are ‘conventional’ eggs and ‘free range’ and ‘organic’ and ‘pastured.’ What’s the actual difference between all of these and is there a cost justification with any of them? As it turns out, there are big differences among these eggs and there can be big implications on your health and your body’s ability to stave off diseases like heart disease, arthritis and even cancer. …show more content…
The title of these eggs leads us to believe that they come from chickens who are allowed to roam freely outside, but this is not always the case. The term “free-range” can be used to mean different things depending on the country and relevant laws. In the United States, egg producers simply need to demonstrate that hens have access to the outdoors, though there is no government regulation as to the quality of the outdoor environment, or the amount of time hens have access to it. This means you can buy free range eggs and those hens only had ten minutes to step outside into a caged area with a concrete floor.
Organic
Organic eggs are simply the product of eggs that are laid by hens which have been fed organic feed. The USDA also requires hens have access to outdoors and cannot be raised in cages. Antibiotics cannot be used unless there is an infectious outbreak. Like “free range” eggs, hens are not always granted meaningful outdoor access. Often times large scale organic egg farms build small wood or concrete porches attached to henhouses.
Pastured
Pastured eggs are the product of hens that are allowed to actually range freely outdoors where they can eat grass, weed seeds, worms and insects. This results in eggs that are far more nutritious for humans and conditions that are far more humane for the
But when it comes time to buy eggs, there are so many options it can become confusing to know which is best for our health. There are ‘conventional’ eggs and ‘free range’ and ‘organic’ and ‘pastured.’ What’s the actual difference between all of these and is there a cost justification with any of them? As it turns out, there are big differences among these eggs and there can be big implications on your health and your body’s ability to stave off diseases like heart disease, arthritis and even cancer. …show more content…
The title of these eggs leads us to believe that they come from chickens who are allowed to roam freely outside, but this is not always the case. The term “free-range” can be used to mean different things depending on the country and relevant laws. In the United States, egg producers simply need to demonstrate that hens have access to the outdoors, though there is no government regulation as to the quality of the outdoor environment, or the amount of time hens have access to it. This means you can buy free range eggs and those hens only had ten minutes to step outside into a caged area with a concrete floor.
Organic
Organic eggs are simply the product of eggs that are laid by hens which have been fed organic feed. The USDA also requires hens have access to outdoors and cannot be raised in cages. Antibiotics cannot be used unless there is an infectious outbreak. Like “free range” eggs, hens are not always granted meaningful outdoor access. Often times large scale organic egg farms build small wood or concrete porches attached to henhouses.
Pastured
Pastured eggs are the product of hens that are allowed to actually range freely outdoors where they can eat grass, weed seeds, worms and insects. This results in eggs that are far more nutritious for humans and conditions that are far more humane for the