Eggs are an interesting topic when it comes to the subject of sustainability. We are aware that the majority of chickens available in the market are from factory farms, but what about eggs?
It doesn’t seem as though supermarket eggs carry much of a different tale. In fact, Free-range-, Free-run, and Organic eggs are likely still produced through factory farms (80% of organic eggs are arriving from factory farms). So despite the good intentions behind purchasing free-range and free-run eggs, I don’t necessarily know if they carry the “ethical solution” we had hoped.
Free-Run Eggs: chickens are not in battery cages but are not allowed outside. Free-run eggs are more expensive because the chickens are being contained inside and allowed to run all over each other, causing an increase in disease and bacteria. As well, there are an increase in number of eggs lain on the ground. “Ground eggs” cannot go to market and so this is a profit loss that must be included in the products costs. This is also the reason why 97% of eggs are from chickens housed in battery cages.
Free-Range Eggs in comparison to Free-run means that the chickens have been let outdoors to experience sunlight for a restricted period of time every day. These eggs have been argued to carry a more nutritional content due to the increased variance in Free-range chickens diet. Free-range chickens are able to graze, eggs insects and worms, which produces a healthier yolk.
Free-range eggs are most defiantly a better option than Free-run but even they are produced via factory farming. 85 000 hens in a single building without cages and a tiny porch for outdoor access can and is considered a viable home for free-range and organic egg production. The best option when it comes to eggs is local.
What you can do: THINK about it. Corporations are picking up on the “green” marketing trend and manipulating it for profit. Next time you go grocery shopping and purchase eggs, take a look at where they are coming from, compare the prices and then think about what you are paying for. If the cost of carbon, ethical farming, and healthy eggs are something that you value I assure that the local producer of farm fresh eggs will thank you.
What I will do: My goal is to find the closest place that sells farm fresh eggs and see if I can incorporate that purchase into my regular grocery shopping. I am currently paying $2-3 on Free-range eggs, I know it wouldn’t be more expensive to buy local. If it is convenient then I will attempt to include others in this purchase so that my trip acts to provide farm fresh eggs to more then myself.
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