So many choices: Demystifying eggs

May 29th, 2009 at 02:25pm Constance McCarthy

In the search for local eggs, there seems to be confusion about the difference between free-range, pastured, and organic, and how they differ from commercial eggs.

Believe it or not, there is no legal definition of what constitutes a free-range egg. Traditionally, free-range is equated with unfenced, but that’s not necessarily the case. There isn’t even a common standard among free-range egg producers as to what the term means. Sometimes it just means that the chicken’s cage is a bit bigger than normal, or that there is a very small door that could be used by chickens to go outdoors. This label generally refers only to the living conditions of the chickens, not their diet.

Pastured chickens, however, are not raised in indoor confinement, but rather are allowed to roam about freely in a grassy area and engage in normal bird behavior. The birds often sleep inside some type of enclosure at night to protect them from predators. They eat mainly green forage, bugs, and worms (i.e., their natural diet). In nearly every way, pastured chickens live as actual chickens, rather than simply as egg-laying machines. Less stress makes for healthier birds, which don’t need drugs or other chemicals.

But is pastured poultry “organic”? Organic eggs come from chickens that are fed organic feed; have access to the outdoors in a cage-free environment; are given antibiotics only in limited circumstances; and are subject to somewhat stricter animal welfare standards.

So, what is the difference between a local egg and a typical commercial one? The appearance and taste are very different, as a pastured egg has a vivid, bright orange yolk and, in my opinion, tastes much richer than any other egg I’ve ever eaten.

Another plus is that eggs laid by pastured chickens, as compared to USDA data on commercial eggs, have been shown to have 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, and 4 to 6 times more vitamin D (Mother Earth News study). Not only are they delectable, but they’re good for you, too!

This is true only if the chickens are free to graze on fresh greens and eat bugs. Most commercial eggs don’t meet this standard. Even if eggs are labeled as “certified organic” or coming from “cage-free” or “free-range” chickens, or ones fed an “all-vegetarian” diet, it’s no assurance that the birds in fact had access to the outdoors or pasture.

You can find local eggs by visiting www.LocalHarvest.org or www.marketmaker.uiuc.edu. Both sites allow you to search by product and zip code, to find nearby producers. Health department restrictions make it very hard to find eggs at farmers markets in Winnebago County; on-farm sales are subject to fewer rules. And that’s the best way to be sure of what you’re getting: talking to the farmer, and asking (or seeing) how the chickens live and what they eat.

Entry Filed under: Eat locally