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Real Free-Range Eggs
By Cheryl Long and Tabitha Alterman
The new results are in: Eggs from hens allowed to peck on pasture are a heck of a lot better than those from chickens raised in cages! Most of the eggs currently sold in supermarkets are nutritionally inferior to eggs produced by hens raised on pasture. That is the conclusion Mother Earth News Magazine has reached following completion of their 2007 egg testing project. The testing has found that, compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:• 1/3 less cholesterol
• 1/4 less saturated fat
• 2/3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene
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What are free-range eggs? Free-range eggs
are from hens that live outdoors or have access to the outdoors.
The nutrient content of eggs from free-range hens is the same as
those from hens housed in production facilities with cages.
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The 2007 results are similar to those from 2005, when Mother Earth News tested eggs from four flocks all managed as truly free range. But these tests are not the first to show that pastured eggs are more nutritious. Several studies conducted since the mid-1970s all indicate that pastured eggs are richer in nutrients than typical supermarket eggs.
We think these dramatically differing nutrient levels are most likely the result of the different diets of birds that produce these two types of eggs. True free-range birds eat a chicken’s natural diet of all kinds of seeds, green plants, insects and worms, usually along with grain or laying mash. Factory farm birds never even see the outdoors, let alone get to forage for their natural diet. Instead they are fed the cheapest possible mixture of corn, soy and/or cottonseed meals, with all kinds of additives.
The conventional egg industry wants very much to deny that free-range/pastured eggs are better than eggs from birds kept in crowded, inhumane indoor conditions. A statement on the American Egg Boards Website (www.aeb.org) says “True free-range eggs are those produced by hens raised outdoors or that have daily access to the outdoors.”
Baloney. They’re trying to duck the issue by incorrectly defining “true free-range.” And the USDA isn’t helping consumers learn the truth, either: “Allowed access to the outside” is how the USDA defines free-range. This inadequate definition means that producers can, and do, label their eggs as free-range even if all they do is leave little doors open on their giant sheds, regardless of whether the birds ever learn to go outside, and regardless of whether there is good pasture or just bare dirt or concrete outside those doors!
Both organizations need to come clean. True free-range eggs are those from hens that range outdoors on pasture, which means they can do what is natural; to forage for all manner of green plants and insects.
The Egg Board statement goes on to say: “The nutrient content of eggs is not affected by whether hens are raised free-range or in floor or cage operations.”
Again, that is hogwash. They think they can simply ignore the growing body of evidence that clearly shows that eggs are superior when the hens are allowed to eat their natural diet. Or maybe they think it is OK to mislead the public to protect egg producers; bottom line.
After Mother Earth News published its first report about the high nutrient levels in pastured eggs, the Egg Nutrition Council questioned their suggestion that pastured eggs were better in their Aug. 8, 2005, newsletter:
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“Barring special diets or breeds, egg nutrients are most likely similar for egg-laying hens, no matter how they are raised.” There’s that double-speak, again: “Barring special diets ...”
Since when are diets not a part of how chickens are raised? At least six studies show that pastured eggs are better. The best they can say is “most likely” this evidence is wrong? Cite some science to support your assertions! The U.S. Poultry and Egg Association offer the same misleading statement on its Web site:
“What are free-range eggs? Free-range eggs are from hens that live outdoors or have access to the outdoors. The nutrient content of eggs from free-range hens is the same as those from hens housed in production facilities with cages.”
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