FREE RANGE EGGS: NOT ALL THEY’RE CRACKED UP TO BE?

By Abigail Baker

There 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.

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 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.

However, all is not clicking and clucking in the chicken run...

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.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since the 1990s, egg production volume has increased by over 100 % across the globe.

The high protein feed and antibiotics given to commercial hens force them to lay about 500 eggs in the time they would naturally only lay 20.

There is only one simple condition that the farmers need to adhere to to use this label: the hens need to be allowed access to the outside. This vague regulation has no more detail than that. The dimensions or quality of the space aren’t mentioned, nor how long the hens should spend outside each day. Neither will you find any stipulations that ensure the chickens are aware of or can easily access their outside space. Hence, free-range chickens often spend only a couple of hours of their lives outside, and are definitely not free to range.

Sadly, there is hardly any difference between the treatment of free-range hens and caged, commercial hens. Both are given mass antibiotics, experience beak trimming or being de-beaked, live in battery cages, and as a result, are vulnerable to disease and a life expectancy that’s cut short to only onetenth of their natural lifespan.

The unethical treatment of chickens is not only a concern for those who care about animal rights - it is also deepling unsettling for any egg eater, as the harmful treatment of hens lowers the potential nutritional value of their produce.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though! There are other alternatives to commercial and free-range eggs. Pasture-raised eggs, for example, are laid by hens that experience a greater standard of living, as the regulations to label your eggs as pasture-raised are more extensive, and include stipulations about the outside space’s dimensions, conditions, vegetation, and how long the hens should be outside each day or week.

These hens spend a greater portion of their time in the sun, receiving vitamin D, and live most naturally as they dustbathe and eat nutrient-dense bugs. These chirpier hens’ eggs are also more well-rounded and healthy as they contain more vitamin A and E, omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoid antioxidants, and beta carotene. They also contain less cholesterol and fat.

Pasture-raised eggs might not be as budget-friendly as their mainstream counterparts, but the expense often reflects the extra care that is taken in ensuring good rearing conditions for the hens, plus the eggs’ high nutritional value.

So next time you go shopping for your pantry, be sure to check the labels to see how your eggs have been reared. By being more intentional and conscious about your grocery list, you can help to make a greater difference to your health, our feathered friends, and the future of nutrition on our planet.

PRIME YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

The 1,3/1,6 beta-glucans in Flora Force BioFendTM is clinically proven to support immune defence and is combined with acerola which is high in naturallyoccurring Vitamin C. NEW AT WELLNESS WAREHOUSE