Post by Mike Crawley on Oct 15, 2014 14:25:35 GMT -8
Marketing has skewed egg labeling which makes it hard to get a clear understanding of what you’re buying. Standing in the egg aisle seeing all the brightly colored labels can be overwhelming.
We want to straighten this out to make it easier for you to choose. You deserve the truth. Egg packaging has been misconstrued because of health scares that include things like antibiotic resistance, hormone effects, bird flu, etc.
It is hard to get the facts straight.
About 90% of American laying hens are raised in battery cages and the UEP supports this notion while the animal welfare experts disagree whole-heartedly. Raising chickens in stressful caged conditions cause weakened immune systems and illnesses, which in turn means more antibiotics.
Misconception #1
“Cage-free” can still mean they are confined in an enclosed building. Doing a little research regarding the farms you buy your eggs from can help with these types of misconceptions. Just because the package says “cage free” doesn’t mean the hens aren’t confined in cramped areas. Plus depending on the state there is no one auditing this.
Misconception #2
“Free-range” or “free roaming” means they only have access to outdoors. A farm can have an opening that leads outside of where the hens are kept, but the outside area that is offered could be as small as a 4-foot by 4-foot space. In these cases, most hens wouldn’t make it outdoors in their lifetime, but because it’s offered, “free-range” is slapped on the carton labels while we are lead to believe they are frolicking on the farmland, standing next to smiling cows.
So here are the facts…
The definitions that are stamped on the egg containers such as “cage-free” and “vegetarian-fed hens” are so broad in definition that marketers have learned how to abuse our dependence on labeling.
Understanding the Different Labels
The United Egg Producers Certified label means that farmers agreed to address issues such as cleanliness, water, feed requirements and basically things that would increase animal welfare. They have to pay for this program and label.
The Egg Quality Assurance Programs (EQAP) is a state adopted program in Pennsylvania that makes sure there is a quality safety egg program in place. This has already spread through fifteen states including California and when the federal egg safety laws go into effect it will look a lot like this program. Keep in mind that this program is voluntary so those who go the extra distance to make sure that they qualify for these types of programs deserve more support from consumers.
What To Look For!
“USDA Organic” label means that the hens were raised without antibiotics or pesticides, and produced within the animal welfare guidelines. They use “organic feed”, the hens have access to outdoors, the lighting is never on longer than the longest day of the year, and there is no induced molting and beak trimming. Molting is basically stressing the hens out so badly, usually by starvation, to force them into producing more eggs. So make sure the USDA Organic label is on the carton. With the USDA Organic symbol only 95% of the process needs to be organic.
In many health stores they have “natural consultants” that make sure the claims on the cartons and boxes are accurate and applicable.
The Biodynamic Farming logo means that the farmer used methods to produce as little environmental impact on the land as possible. They try and preserve energy, water, and try to enhance their natural habitat. This includes make sure the hens spend as much time outdoors as possible and they are vegetarian fed. This label is also a non-governmental certified program that is voluntary.
Certified Humane means that the farms meet the specific criteria for the humane treatment of hens allowing natural behaviors like preening, scratching, vegetarian feed, and no antibiotics.
Free-Farmed certified hens mean that there are safe waste management systems and clean living measures put in place for the hens to live as healthily as possible.
Kosher eggs have a big circle with U or K in the center and that there are no blood spots on the eggs.
What To Be Weary of Regarding Eggs
“Grass fed chickens” isn’t accurate because chickens cant live on grass alone. They need protein so if a label says, “100% grass fed chickens” be cautious.
“Raised without antibiotics” is a term approved by the USDA and there should be a paper trail. Antibiotic Free is not a term approved by the FDA because there are so many interpretations. Does this mean the hen has never received antibiotics or was the egg tested and is considered antibiotic free? The boundaries are blurred when “Antibiotic Free” is claimed.
The claim “Natural” means nothing when it comes to eggs. They are 100% natural, even the ones that the chickens were stressed out and pumped full of antibiotics. The claim that they are natural gives the buyer the illusion of the way hens are raised in an organic environment.
“Farm fresh” labeling is redundant because every egg came from some kind of farm.
When “hormone free” and “steroid free” are on the carton be careful because they stopped giving chickens hormones in the 1950’s because it made the chicken meat really soft and people didn’t like it. So if a package says “hormone free” the marketers are just trying to add another pretty label to the carton to lure the unsuspecting buyer in.
With this Information, we hope it helps clear up some of the miscommunication regarding eggs and proper labeling. Just be mindful to not be fooled when looking for the healthiest options. Learn which labels to look for and which to be weary of and it’ll make the different labels easier to understand and make you a happier consumer.
We want to straighten this out to make it easier for you to choose. You deserve the truth. Egg packaging has been misconstrued because of health scares that include things like antibiotic resistance, hormone effects, bird flu, etc.
It is hard to get the facts straight.
About 90% of American laying hens are raised in battery cages and the UEP supports this notion while the animal welfare experts disagree whole-heartedly. Raising chickens in stressful caged conditions cause weakened immune systems and illnesses, which in turn means more antibiotics.
Misconception #1
“Cage-free” can still mean they are confined in an enclosed building. Doing a little research regarding the farms you buy your eggs from can help with these types of misconceptions. Just because the package says “cage free” doesn’t mean the hens aren’t confined in cramped areas. Plus depending on the state there is no one auditing this.
Misconception #2
“Free-range” or “free roaming” means they only have access to outdoors. A farm can have an opening that leads outside of where the hens are kept, but the outside area that is offered could be as small as a 4-foot by 4-foot space. In these cases, most hens wouldn’t make it outdoors in their lifetime, but because it’s offered, “free-range” is slapped on the carton labels while we are lead to believe they are frolicking on the farmland, standing next to smiling cows.
So here are the facts…
The definitions that are stamped on the egg containers such as “cage-free” and “vegetarian-fed hens” are so broad in definition that marketers have learned how to abuse our dependence on labeling.
Understanding the Different Labels
The United Egg Producers Certified label means that farmers agreed to address issues such as cleanliness, water, feed requirements and basically things that would increase animal welfare. They have to pay for this program and label.
The Egg Quality Assurance Programs (EQAP) is a state adopted program in Pennsylvania that makes sure there is a quality safety egg program in place. This has already spread through fifteen states including California and when the federal egg safety laws go into effect it will look a lot like this program. Keep in mind that this program is voluntary so those who go the extra distance to make sure that they qualify for these types of programs deserve more support from consumers.
What To Look For!
“USDA Organic” label means that the hens were raised without antibiotics or pesticides, and produced within the animal welfare guidelines. They use “organic feed”, the hens have access to outdoors, the lighting is never on longer than the longest day of the year, and there is no induced molting and beak trimming. Molting is basically stressing the hens out so badly, usually by starvation, to force them into producing more eggs. So make sure the USDA Organic label is on the carton. With the USDA Organic symbol only 95% of the process needs to be organic.
In many health stores they have “natural consultants” that make sure the claims on the cartons and boxes are accurate and applicable.
The Biodynamic Farming logo means that the farmer used methods to produce as little environmental impact on the land as possible. They try and preserve energy, water, and try to enhance their natural habitat. This includes make sure the hens spend as much time outdoors as possible and they are vegetarian fed. This label is also a non-governmental certified program that is voluntary.
Certified Humane means that the farms meet the specific criteria for the humane treatment of hens allowing natural behaviors like preening, scratching, vegetarian feed, and no antibiotics.
Free-Farmed certified hens mean that there are safe waste management systems and clean living measures put in place for the hens to live as healthily as possible.
Kosher eggs have a big circle with U or K in the center and that there are no blood spots on the eggs.
What To Be Weary of Regarding Eggs
“Grass fed chickens” isn’t accurate because chickens cant live on grass alone. They need protein so if a label says, “100% grass fed chickens” be cautious.
“Raised without antibiotics” is a term approved by the USDA and there should be a paper trail. Antibiotic Free is not a term approved by the FDA because there are so many interpretations. Does this mean the hen has never received antibiotics or was the egg tested and is considered antibiotic free? The boundaries are blurred when “Antibiotic Free” is claimed.
The claim “Natural” means nothing when it comes to eggs. They are 100% natural, even the ones that the chickens were stressed out and pumped full of antibiotics. The claim that they are natural gives the buyer the illusion of the way hens are raised in an organic environment.
“Farm fresh” labeling is redundant because every egg came from some kind of farm.
When “hormone free” and “steroid free” are on the carton be careful because they stopped giving chickens hormones in the 1950’s because it made the chicken meat really soft and people didn’t like it. So if a package says “hormone free” the marketers are just trying to add another pretty label to the carton to lure the unsuspecting buyer in.
With this Information, we hope it helps clear up some of the miscommunication regarding eggs and proper labeling. Just be mindful to not be fooled when looking for the healthiest options. Learn which labels to look for and which to be weary of and it’ll make the different labels easier to understand and make you a happier consumer.