You go to the market, and you pick up a carton of eggs. They’re marked “Cage Free” or “Free Range”, and they’re surrounded by other organic produce. You figure they’re worth every extra penny they cost beyond the low price of standard eggs, because you’ve ensured that the chickens that made them were able to lead happy lives. Sounds like a grounded, eco-conscious and compassionate plan, non?
In fact, eggs that claim to be “free-range” are more expensive because the production cost is higher, but you don’t necessarily get what you pay for. As I’m sure you expected from the too-good-to-be-true tone, terms like “Cage Free” are more often than not unsubstantiated claims. The American Egg Board’s website states that free-range eggs are produced by hens that have daily access to the outdoors, yet national standards do not specify the quality of land, amount of time, or amount of space these hens should have access to.
The best choice when buying eggs of any kind is to opt for “pastured eggs”- eggs from hens that are raised with ample farm, often at a local establishment, and are able to feed from pastures as opposed to being confined and fed grains. One landmark article on MotherEarthNews even presents data from a study that proved that these true free-range eggs have higher nutritional values than those from hens who are confined to conventional factory farming methods. In this test, they worked with eggs produced by chickens that lived in pastured flocks all around the country, and definitively proved that their eggs were more nutritious!
If pastured eggs pique your interest, check out websites like www.localharvest.com and www.eatwild.com for more information, and to find out how to buy them at a farm stand near you!
