FOOD
Free-Range Eggs Not All They’re Cracked up to Be? By Abigail Baker
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here are a few essentials that are always on my grocery list: oat milk, seasonal fruit, whole grain bread, and eggs. A staple in many homes, eggs are enjoyed by about 75 % of the world’s population, and can be prepared in an ever-expanding number of ways.
zinc. They also contain high-density lipoprotein which can reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. Additionally, and perhaps most plainly, they are a great source of protein and contain few calories in comparison to other forms of protein like beef or pork.
Yet, this marvel of an ingredient is not only reputable for its diverse uses but also its nutritional value. Eggs contain numerous trace nutrients needed for holistic health, including vitamin A, B12, and E; calcium, phosphorus, folate, and
However, all is not clicking and clucking in the chicken run...
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Egg cartons include information about the eggs’ grade, size, and how the hens who laid them have been treated.
Labels like cage-free, organic, freerange, and pasture-raised describe the living environment of the hens and their standard of life. Like most of us, I confidently trusted and assumed that eggs came from hens who clucked away and generally lived their best lives in a lush field, and that by buying free-range I was making the best choice for my health, for the chickens and for the environment at large. The reality of my choice, however, is vastly different.
