Eggs 101: The difference between free-range; cage-free; pasture-raised; organic; natural; omega-3

June 22, 11:33 AMNY Wellness ExaminerRoger Ziegler

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Battery raised egg layers versus, pasture raised chickens.

You want to eat well, but you're not sure about the cost. You don't like that animals are raised in torturous conditions, but...

And what do those labels mean anyway? Is "free range" a ripoff? Is there a compromise I can make to feel good about my purchase and not mortgage my home to eat?

And while raising your own chickens seems to be on the rise in NYC, according to Metro NY,  in case you are not raising your own birds, here's a simple list of what those labels really mean and the monetary costs from cheapest to most expensive for eggs: (Thanks to the Humane Society for some info)

"Farm Fresh," "healthy," or "United Egg Producers Certified" - The cheapest option, sometimes 99 cents for a dozen. And there's a reason. These birds are fed the cheapest food and raised like egg producing machines than living beings.

They are raised in battery cages where each hen gets about a sheet of looseleaf paper's size to stand in, while being packed into crates with their beaks burned off so they don't peck each other to death from the confinement and stress. But hey, it's 99 cents a dozen.

"Vegetarian Feed," "All Natural," "Omega-3 enhanced" - A slightly better diet, no mashed up cow or poultry parts, so slightly better for your own health, but as far as cruelty, these birds are still cage raised and the price can now jump to around $2.50 a dozen.

"Cage-free" - No more confined pens! Hallelujah, but still confined indoors their entire lives. but at least they can flap their little wings and walk around,. A huge leap up in cruelty reduction and still around $2.50 - $3.00 per dozen. But their feed may be filled with ground up chicken and animal parts if the label also does not say "vegetarian diet." Remember, if it doesn't say it, it's not there. 

"Free-range" - A total misnomer, and you're usually paying $4 for a dozen. The birds must have "access" to the outside by no requirement that they every actually go outside.

There is an excellent article from independent producer Robert Plamondon on his site about what it really means to be "free-range" and how egg producers create situations where the birds never go out (low doors, bird territoriality) because basically says chickens need a lot of space to roam and you're looking at $10-$15 dozen eggs if they do.

What you are really looking for if free range is your thing is "pasture raised" eggs. Which means the birds have pecked at insects, grass seed and flapped around on a grassy field and even in some bushes and trees. The most humane option, the best tasting option and you guessed it, the most expensive (the $10-$15 aforesaid).

"Certified Organic" -  Al vegetarian organic certified diet. Also uncaged, but that does not mean outdoors. Now we're talking $4-5 bucks a dozen.

"Certified Humane" - No cage, indoors, but much lower bird density and certified by Humane Farm Animal Care.

"Animal Welfare Approved" - A service of theAnimal Welfare Institute, the compassion cops for farm animals. No cages, no beak cutting, smiles on the farmer's faces. No chain supermarkets carry these products yet, but many independent farmers do. The web is filled with them and these egg shells can be brown or blue with dark yokes and cost around $10 a dozen or more.

Of coruse, it should be noted that in virtually all commercial egg operations, the males chicks are killed as soon as they are born (not much in the egg-laying department) and the girl chickens are "re-processed" after a year (chickens can live to their teens) when they are "spent"

Fo' mo' info: Mother Earth News, for pasture raised eggs and food Eat Wild.