The industrial, inhumane system by which most eggs are produced can be changed. Consumers have a large role to play in making these changes possible.
One way to do this is by choosing free-range eggs. These eggs offer many health benefits and are a great choice for those concerned about cholesterol.
Choosing Free-Run Eggs Aligns with Responsible and Sustainable Food Choices
For many animal lovers, choosing free-range eggs over conventional is a no-brainer. Hens raised under the free-range label are guaranteed a minimum of two square feet per hen, which means they have plenty of room to roam and enjoy fresh air.
However, if you’re concerned about the impact of your food choices on the environment, there are many more steps you can take to reduce your environmental footprint. For example, buy local, eat seasonal foods and avoid processed foods—which require more water, pesticides, land clearing and fossil fuel usage.
Moreover, shop the bulk section of your grocery store to reduce packaging waste (a major contributor to greenhouse gasses). You can also bring reusable bags or use upcycled ones, as well as freeze leftovers before they spoil. Additionally, limiting meat consumption can decrease methane emissions and water use. Finally, reducing food waste can cut down on carbon dioxide emissions and the need for fertilizers and herbicides.
Free-Run Eggs Support Your Commitment to Responsible Consumption
If you are a sustainable consumer, then eating free-range eggs is the right choice for you. They are not only delicious and simple to prepare, but they provide almost every nutrient our bodies need.
Eggs can be found in many different cartons at the grocery store, including conventional, organic, enriched with omega-3s and cage-free, but which one is right for you? The labels on the boxes can be confusing, especially if you are trying to purchase responsibly.
Hens that produce free-range and cage-free eggs are given more space than in the battery cages where they were raised in conventional systems. This extra space allows them to roam and graze on grass and bugs which are great for their digestive system and add flavor to the eggs. However, this freedom is not regulated and the term “free-range” is used by many producers with different definitions of how much outdoor access they allow their chickens to have.
Free-Run Eggs Support Environmental Stewardship
The environmental impact of laying eggs goes beyond the direct greenhouse gas emissions of the hens themselves. Hen feed production requires crops like soya, which contribute to deforestation and habitat destruction as well as land use change. The cultivation of these crops, as well as their transportation over long distances, results in GHG and other harmful emissions.
Hens in confinement systems also have higher microbial counts on their shells, which can pose health risks for both consumers and the workers who handle them. In fact, this year’s Salmonella outbreak affecting hundreds of people in England resulted in more than 150 hospitalizations and one death.
Consumers are willing to pay a premium for eggs produced by hens with higher standards of welfare. However, the costs of producing eggs according to these high standards are more expensive than conventional cage system production. These higher prices are a barrier for many potential buyers. In addition, the heterogeneity of consumers’ preferences and WTP for egg types suggests that producers need to develop successful communication and pricing strategies.
Free-Run Eggs Support Your Health
Eggs are an essential part of any diet, and they're full of all the essential nutrients our bodies crave. When you're choosing eggs, look for the free-range or organic label and choose organic if possible. These labels tell you that hens are uncaged, have access to the outdoors (including grass), and eat an organically-certified feed.
Hens raised on small farms with more humane practices like cage-free, free range, and pasture-raised also have more nutrients in their eggs. In Marketplace's tests, we found that eggs produced on small farms had more Vitamin D, which is essential for good bone and teeth health. They also had higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zeaxanthin (which reduce the risk of macular degeneration later in life) and vitamins A, D, and E. Choosing free-range or organic eggs from these smaller producers will help support your healthy lifestyle, without breaking the bank. The average cost for a dozen of these nutrient-rich eggs is about $3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are organic fruits?
Organic food does not contain pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. They are also richer in nutrients like vitamins C, E, K, and omega-3 fat acids. These healthy ingredients make organic food better for our bodies and the planet.
Organic foods are made using sustainable agricultural practices, which protect soil quality and promote biodiversity. They are free from harmful chemicals, radiation, and sewage sludge.
Organics are often associated with produce. However, organic products can include dairy, meat, poultry and eggs as well as personal care items and pet food.
The USDA defines "organic" as that crops being raised according to strict rules set forth by federal government standards. This means that farmers can't use non-organic methods of growing these foods. However, they can use approved organic pest control methods like crop rotation and covering cropping or animal feed made with organic materials.
A farmer must also adhere to guidelines about how much fertilizer or pesticide he applies during the growing season. Also, he must rotate his fields between different crops. GMOs, synthetic insecicides, artificial growth hormones or synthetic fertilizers can't be used by farmers.
Vegetables and fruits labeled as "100% organic" fulfill all of the requirements. But not all farms will label their products 100% organic. That would confuse consumers. Instead, they will call their product "made using organic ingredients." "
What is organic meat?
Organic meat means real food, grown without artificial fertilizers or pesticides. It also means the animals were not fed any genetically modified foods. This means that the meat is safe for consumption as there aren’t any harmful chemicals.
Organic meats are better for the environment. Eating organic foods helps reduce pollution in the environment, such as rivers and lakes. We also help protect wildlife because organic farmers usually do not use toxic chemicals that kill insects and birds.
The best way to ensure that you eat healthy organic meats is to buy them locally whenever possible. Local shopping helps keep more money in your community than it does out of state. Local businesses often pass on savings to customers shopping locally. Local businesses are more likely to keep jobs here than export them abroad.
What are some things I should look out for when purchasing organic goods?
USDA-certified organic labels are recommended. This seal signifies that the product meets specific USDA standards. Look for the "USDA Organic" seal on packages, boxes, cartons, cans, and jars.
When you shop for meat, ensure that it comes from cows who are fed organic feed. Cattle are ruminants. They eat the whole animal. Ruminant cattle are divided into four stomach compartments, the rumen and reticulum as well as the omasum and abmasum. If a cow is to be labeled organically, all parts must be organically fed.
When buying chicken, make sure it comes only from chickens fed 100% organic feed and never given antibiotics. Chickens are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Omnivorous chickens possess a digestive tract made up of a crop.
You should ensure you only buy dairy products made from milk that has been produced by cows who have been fed 100% organically grown food. Like ruminants, dairy cattle have four stomachs. Milk comes from the fourth stomach compartment--the udder.
You should always check the label before purchasing any other livestock. This will let you know what percentage of the diet was given to the animals. One example is pork that may be labeled '95% Organic'. This means that 95 percent came from organic sources.
What is the difference in organic and non-organic foods?
Organic food does not contain pesticides, chemical fertilisers, sewage waste, irradiation, genetic modification. Organic farming practices support soil health, water quality, and animal welfare.
Inorganic foods are grown with pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and sewage sludge. Radiation is used to treat irradiated food; biological engineering techniques are used to create genetically modified organisms (GMO).
The term "natural" is often used interchangeably with "organic." But natural does not necessarily imply organic. Some products labeled "natural" may also contain synthetic ingredients.
Organic produce is often more nutritious than conventional produce, as the soil has fewer pesticides and harmful chemicals. Organic farmers don't use any artificial fertilizers, hormones or antibiotics.
Statistics
- Popular clothing brands, like Patagonia, are labelled as organic by using 100 percent organic cotton for many of their styles. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids were up to 50 percent higher in organic meats and milk than in conventionally raised products.[3] (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to a study performed by consumerreports.org, organic products, compared to non-organic products, ranged anywhere from 13 percent cheaper to 303 percent more expensive. (en.wikipedia.org)
- When packaged products indicate they are “made with organic [specific ingredient or food group],” they contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. (usda.gov)
External Links
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- The link between occupational pesticide exposure and cancer risk: A review: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B. Vol 15, No 4.
- Genetically modified food safety and public concerns: a review by Journal of Food Science and Technology
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- Organic food and its impact on human well-being: ScienceDirect assesses the status quo as well as future research prospects
- Technical Note: Simultaneous vitamin and carotenoid analysis of milk from total mixed-ration-fed cows is optimized for xanthophyll detection. ScienceDirect
[TAG46]
- EWG's 2022 Shopping Guide to Pesticides in Produce
- Clean Fifteen(tm) Conventional Produce with the Least Pesticides
How To
What happens to your body if you switch to organic products
Organic products are free from synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, and genetic manipulation. They are free-range and come from clean water sources. The term "organic", which means they don't contain additives or chemicals, refers to their non-containing any. This product was made from natural materials and is free of harmful substances.
The term "natural", refers only to how food was grown. It's used to describe foods that have not been altered into their final form (e.g. fruits). Natural foods are usually fresher than processed foods, as they haven’t been exposed to heat, radiation, chemical preservatives, or other treatments. However, some people believe natural doesn't necessarily mean healthy. Many experts say there isn't much difference between conventional and organic foods. Both types are tested for safety as well as quality. Organic produce is safer than conventionally produced produce.
Most grocery stores offer organic options. For organic meats, poultry, eggs and seafood, you should check with your local supermarket. Some companies sell only organic products; others have separate sections for them. USDA Certified Organic is a non-GMO Project Verified company.
If you are pregnant, or nursing, these products should not be eaten. Unborn babies and infants can be exposed to pesticides.
Resources:
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