Food Label Series: Eggs and Chicken
Food Labels can be super confusing for people. They are made to entice you to buy products and to inform you. Some are stupid and useless. For Example ALL NATURAL. This DOES NOT mean it is organic or healthy. Cocaine is "natural." So when shopping for food do not fall for this label.
I am starting a mini series on labels to help you navigate the process. I'm starting with Eggs and Chicken since they use many of the same labels. So What is the difference between Cage-Free, Free- Range, and Pasture Raised?
In the past and in still situations today, Chickens are confined to small cages with barely any room to move. Talk about uncomfortable! Not to mention, causing distress and anxiety for the birds. They are pumped with hormones and forced to live in these conditions and produce eggs or until they reach a size for processing. This stress, anxiety, and distress in the birds is now a part of your food and it affects you!
Here are the labels to be mindful of:
Cage-free: Typically means the chickens are loose in a barn/building, but it is super crowded with no room to move. The birds have food and water but no access to the outdoors. These conditions also mean feces are everywhere creating an ammonia smell. Chickens for consumption can not be kept in cages but laying hens can. So when buying eggs consider that aspect.
Free Range: The birds are loose in a barn/building but have some limited ACCESS to the outdoors, but it doesn't mean they go outside. That outdoor access is typically a small fenced-in enclosure or a large door. There are no regulations on how small/large the "outdoor access" must be.
Pasture Raised: Birds are allowed time outdoors, but there is no timed guideline.
Certified Humane: A strict guideline that you want to look for. It means the birds were treated humanely, not confined to cages, and not given routine hormones or antibiotics.
Animal Welfare Approved: According to the ASPCA, this is the more strict label given based on humane practices. Not only does it ensure outdoor time and natural light but it even includes a max transportation time of four hours. (Transportation can stress the birds out.)
Organic: The birds were fed organic feed, which may not apply to their living conditions.
Vegetarian-fed: Did you know birds are actually omnivores? Meaning they eat plants AND meat such as worms and insects. But if the label says vegetarian fed it means the birds did not eat any animal by-products. (Animal by-products are basically ground animals)
Commercial and industrial farming practices are horrific. Not only is this bad for the consumer eating these products but what these poor animals go through is worse. So what do we do? Choose wisely when purchasing! Read labels carefully and look for local farmers who practice humanely.