Ethical Eggs: What is the Difference Between Store Eggs?

We’re much more aware these days about the impact our choices have on the planet and on the creatures we depend on for food. Chances are you already know that organic is better, that fresh and seasonal is better, but what about animal products like eggs? Unless you’re a vegan, you’ll find yourself with a dilemma every time you go to the store. What’s the difference between store eggs?

What is the Difference Between Store Eggs?

If you’re trying to live an ethical, responsible life, there are some things that can trip you up. For example, you might want to avoid factory farming and make ethical choices at the grocery store, so you’ll look for words like ‘free range’ on the labels. But unless you have your own backyard chickens, you really need to know what you’re looking for when you’re reading the fine print on grocery store eggs. If you do have your own chickens, you’ll know exactly what they’re eating, how much space and free roaming they have, and that they are living happy, free-range lives.

A Word on Egg Marketing

There are some buzzwords in the world of egg marketing that can be misleading. Depending on where you live, there may or may not be regulations on what producers and sellers can say about the product they’re trying to get you to buy. Generally speaking, words like ‘natural,’ ‘farm fresh’ and even ‘cage-free’ are so loosely defined that they are effectively meaningless. They sure conjure up a story-book image of Farmer Jones and his happy flock wandering around the farm, but these chickens may never see the light of day and may, in fact, be confined to a room, building, or enclosure and never actually feel the sun on their wings. They may not be in cages, but they’re still raised indoors.

There are tighter regulations and standards for descriptions like ‘organic’ or ‘certified.’ You just need to know who is certifying what, and what that actually means in your state. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration can investigate label claims on egg cartons, but there is a still a great deal of inconsistency between certifying bodies. It pays to be an informed consumer and do your research before you buy.

Different Types of Eggs

It used to be a choice between brown and white eggs, but nowadays you’ll be confronted with more like a dozen types of eggs to choose from.

Cage-Free

Battery hens spend their lives crammed into a small cage surrounded by thousands of other hens crammed into wire cages stacked high to the ceiling. They can barely turn around, can’t stretch their wings or nest, they’re just egg-producing machines.

So, nobody wants to buy battery hen eggs, right? Surely cage-free is good? Well, maybe. But cage-free or free run doesn’t mean free-ranging chickens out in sunny pastures. They can still be in cramped conditions with no fresh air or daylight. ‘Free run’ is slightly better as the chickens have more room but it does not mean the same as ‘free range.’

Free-Range or Pastured?

Look for ‘free-range’ or ‘pastured’ on the label if you want to buy eggs from chickens that actually get to see the outside world. Free ranging chickens have access to the outdoors. In terms of space and freedom, pastured is best as the chickens actually live outdoors and have a much more varied diet as they can scratch around and catch insects and worms. Eggs from pasture-raised chickens have been shown to have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

Vegetarian-Fed

Vegetarian eggs might sound more virtuous but think for a moment. Chickens are naturally omnivorous, and in a home, flock would actually eat a lot of bugs and worms. Chickens need the protein from eating meat and will actually turn to cannibalism if they don’t get it. Vegetarian eggs are not the eco-friendly alternative they might seem.

Organic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program has strict regulations for what can be certified organic. Certified Organic chickens must be cage-free with access to the outdoors and organically fed.

Other Things to be Concerned About

Apart from the space chickens have and their diet, you might also be concerned about some of the other practices of egg producers. Many producers kill male chicks as they obviously won’t be producing eggs and therefore have no economic value.

Producers of caged and cage-free eggs often de-beak their chickens to prevent them from pecking each other. The chickens’ beaks are cut or burnt off with no anesthetic, and there is evidence that this practice cases acute and chronic pain to the birds.

What about hormones and antibiotics? The FDA has outlawed the use of hormones and antibiotics in poultry production so “no hormones” and “antibiotic-free” shouldn’t be used as a marketing ploy. Particular types of antibiotics are authorized for treating sick chickens, but not as a regular pre-emptive measure.

So How to Make the Right Choice

If you want to be one hundred percent sure your eggs are coming from happy chickens, the best way is to raise your own backyard flock. You can find a lot of resources online and there are some great books on the topic!

What is the Difference Between Store Eggs?

Short of that, you need to do your research and make an informed choice. Visit local farms and see how they are raising their chickens. Support farmers who are treating their birds kindly.

And as always, read the labels carefully. Avoid vague terms like natural or farm fresh. Choose to support producers who allow their chickens to roam free and forage. Not only will you be encouraging happier, healthy hens, but you and your family will also be getting more nutritious eggs.