How to Decode Egg Cartons

(Page 2 of 2)

April/May 2007
By Laura Sayre 
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“Certified Humane.” Humane Farm Animal Care operates a certification program specifying that laying hens are uncaged, with access to perches, nest boxes and dust-bathing areas. There are stocking-density maximums but outdoor access is not required. Debeaking is allowed; starvation to induce molting is prohibited.

“Certified Organic.” Production methods must comply with the USDA National Organic Program, including organic, vegetarian feed, no use of antibiotics and no cages. Debeaking and forced molting by starvation are allowed. Organic standards require producers to “maintain livestock living conditions which accommodate the health and natural behavior of the animals.” How much access to the outdoors this requires for chickens is still being hotly debated. At this time, on large organic chicken farms, it may mean nothing more than a small door opening onto a concrete yard.

“Omega 3.” All eggs contain small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, thought to be beneficial to human health. Omega-3 levels in eggs can be raised by supplementing the birds’ diet with things such as fish oil, flax seed or alfalfa meal (or by simply allowing the birds to forage on lawn or pasture).

Find Fresh Local Eggs

Want to find local, farm-fresh, real eggs in your area? Search your ZIP code at the following egg-ceptional Web sites:

Local Harvest

Eat Wild

Eat Well Guide 
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Comments

  • Tabitha 6/20/2008 8:22:48 PM

    Unfortunately, I developed a nasty egg allergy after my last pregnancy so I can longer partake of the yummy breakfast burritoes I used to adore. For a few years I raised Americauna Hens (spelling?) from chicks. They were wonderful animals to have around. We had a large backyard for them to run free in all day and fed them nothing but grains and the bgs they dug up. Their eggs were blue or green and were SO much better than anything in the store. We had happy, healthy chickens who were more pets than anything else and they rewarded us with tons of great eggs and tons of fun. Even with my allergy, I still intend to raise hens again when I move back to the country (my family can still eat them).

    On a a side note, it saddens me deeply what is happening to most of the chickens in the country. I once saw a horrible documentary showing how the factory farms sort the chicks for sex when they are babies and the males are instantly thrown in a dumpster to slowly suffocate to death. It's sickening how far we as a society have removed ourselves from the food chain.

  • pacific_waters 12/23/2007 11:53:59 AM

    That sounds good Mary Chestnut but chickens that are not caghed do
    not exhibit the same destructive and cannibalistic beahviors that
    caged chickens do. No matter how you slice it, the industry is
    cruel and inhumane.

  • Mary 6/7/2007 11:29:50 AM

    Readers should be aware that the Certified Humane program does not
    allow debeaking. Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), the nonprofit that
    operates the Certified Humane Raised and Handled program, does
    allow beak trimming in order to prevent outbreaks of feather
    pulling and cannibalism, a serious welfare issue that can occur in
    flocks of any size. Please review HFAC Animal Care Standards,
    available online at www.certifiedhumane.org (click on Standards on
    the left navigation bar), for more accurate information about what
    the Certified Humane label means.

  • georgie 3/30/2007 12:00:00 PM

    This is another outrage! DECEITFUL, EXPLOITATIVE MANIPULATION FOR
    MONEY AGAIN !!!. lISTING THE OMEGA 3 IN EGGS !!!!! Why don't they
    list the AMOUNT OF CHOLESTEROL IN EGGS, which is almost 3 times
    more than beef. One half an egg a day has more cholesterol than the
    recommended allowance/day. Happy heart attack, the "rightful' karma
    for whose who has animals suffer for their oral gratification.

  • K. 3/27/2007 4:52:42 PM

    This news doesn't surprise me in the least! Some years ago, the egg
    companies were even caught taking the outdated eggs & washing
    them with a solution & redating the cartons!! Wonder why we all
    stay in the bathroom??? I will spread this news to others who are
    buying the eggs in the store because they are about the same price
    as the local people & it is easier to just get them at the
    store. Thanks so much. I used to have chickens & loved "my
    girls". I had one hen 8 yrs. I actually saw her start &
    complete her cycle of laying eggs. She was a jewell. KB in GA

  • Erica 3/27/2007 10:42:09 AM

    To most consumers surprise, there are currently no federal
    regulations pertaining to the use of animal welfare claims on egg
    cartons. This allows producers to indiscriminately use phrases such
    as animal-friendly or images of happy hens roaming around outside
    even if those eggs come from birds confined in wire battery cages
    so small, they can barely even move. Visit EggIndustry.com to learn
    more and find out how you help urge the FDA to mandate truth in
    labeling on egg cartons.

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