Buying Eggs: Eggs and Grocery Label Claims

Do you have to live on a farm to have chickens that deliver fresh eggs or is owning your own chicken becoming a new trend? I was talking with a client who lives in the city of Minneapolis who has her own chickens and the end result is humanely raised chickens who produce highly nutritious eggs.

The thought of raising your own chicken for eggs might be intimidating and certainly a lot of work, so if you are more inclined to stick with the traditional grocery store eggs, how can you determine if the eggs you are buying are coming from humanely treated chickens? Well, if you read the labels of eggs it can be confusing. Once again, I was so pleased to read the article "Sorting Through the Claims of the Boastful Egg" in the NY Times on September 16, 2008 because never has buying eggs been more confusing.

As the NY times article states, some claims are regulated by the federal government, state government and some not at all. To ensure that there is truth in labeling, look for the USDA Organic label, USDA Shield or animal care related labels.

Definitions of Labels Claims, as defined by the agriculture department (resource NY Times):

Cage Free -- chickens kept out of cages with access to continuous food and water, doesn't necessarily have access to the outdoors.

Free Range --meets cage free standards, must have access to the outdoors, unless there’s a health risk present. There are no standards, though, for what that outdoor area must be like. (A concrete lot could do.)

Pasture Raised -- no regulation on this term. It implies that hens got at least part of their food from greens and bugs. Like other pasture raised animals, some studies suggest that pasture-raised eggs have more nutrients, in particular Omega 3 -- fatty acids.

As far as animal care labels, most of them have requirements on farm density, reducing feed to increase egg production, space, feed, etc.

"Animal Welfare Approved" a label by the America Welfare Institute. This label requires is given to independent farmers and has strict standards for the humane treatment of animals. The great news, is that Animal Welfare Approved foods are available at these stores/farms in Minnesota. According to the NY Times article, "flocks can have no more than 500 birds, and chickens over 4 weeks old must be able to spend all their time outside on pesticide-free pasture with a variety of vegetation. They must have access to dust baths and cannot have their beaks trimmed (a practice on crowded egg farms) or be fed animal byproducts."

The Humane Farm Animal Care, created the "Certified Humane Raised and Handled" and is audited every year by the Department of Agriculture. Chickens are kept cage free, although not necessarily outdoors.

American Humane Association created a voluntary label similar to the Certified Humane Raise and Handled (above).

Organic chickens are cage free and are able to go outdoors, although there is no defined time. They are not allowed to be given antibiotics. They are free fed from animal byproducts which is made from crops grown without chemical pesticides, fertilizers, etc. If eggs are titled "organic" without the seal, then they may be regulated by the state and don't necessarily meet the same standards.

There is a lot of information as it relates to labeling. I encourage, if you can to buy "farm fresh" eggs where you know the eggs are coming from a small, independent grass fed farm. As listed above, you can find local listing of animal welfare approved eggs here!

Fearing Eggs

I was working with a client this week and she said "I am afraid of eating eggs" for fear the fat and cholesterol in the eggs would be detrimental to her health. I sat back and reflected on how much misinformation and debate is around eggs and their nutrient composition. It made me sad! Ironically, there was also this discussion on a professional listserv that I subscribe, along with a great post by blogger and owner of After the Diet Netowork Monika Woolsey.

I have always been in defense of the WHOLE egg. When I think back to childhood, there was one remedy that always worked for me when I was feeling ill -- can you guess? Eggs. I remember my aunt making me a hard boiled or fried egg sandwich and feeling so much better! Then came research that connected the cholesterol found in the yolks of eggs and elevated blood cholesterol and everyone stopped eating the yolks and all of a sudden a new problem -- FEAR of egg yolks and for some a catalyst of many stress responses around the food; thus resulting in a broken relationship with the nutrient dense food.

Currently, the research is mixed and Monika does a really good job of highlighting the differences. I believe the American Heart Association still recommends 3 egg yolks/week. The bottom line is that I still work with many clients that have signifciant fears and broken relationships with eggs. In defense of eggs, particularly those from chickens raised on sustainable farms -- they are satisfying, nutrient dense and they taste good!