Last month I wrote about the abundant health benefits eggs provide. However, eggs are not all created equal. And that’s where labels come in handy — if you know what they mean. It’s easy to be mislead by labels on egg cartons, so let me clear up the confusion, and help you get the healthiest eggs, by telling you exactly what the labels do and don’t say.
Free-Range: These chickens are un-caged and have some degree of outside access. This label doesn’t tell us whether the chickens are packed inside a hen house which can harm the health of the chickens by producing high levels of air pollutants.
Cage Free: These chickens are un-caged but still packed inside a barn or warehouse. They aren’t required to have access to the outdoors and their diet isn’t even addressed.
Natural: This label doesn’t tell us anything about the environment in which the chickens are raised either. Are they packed into a barn? Do they have outdoor access? The only thing it tells us is that the chickens and eggs are minimally processed.
Also note, all of the above leave out information regarding the quality of land the chickens have access to. Obviously, these labels are pretty tricky. Not only are they misleading but not one of them is required to be verified.
The ideal eggs are free-range, pasture-raised, and fertile (which means they were raised with a rooster). These eggs will typically be found only at farmers markets. Certified Humane eggs come next on the list but they too can be difficult to find. Eggs Certified Organic by the U.S.D.A are your best option for quality and availability. These eggs are in compliance with government-backed standards verified by independent, accredited certifiers and are readily available. These chickens are un-caged and required to have outdoor access. They are fed an organic all-vegetarian diet free of animal by-products, antibiotics and pesticides. They cannot have been treated with antibiotics. If treatment is required they are diverted from the organic food stream.
Good quality eggs yield many health benefits and the highest quality eggs come from healthy, properly raised chickens.
For more helpful information about living healthier and how to apply it to your unique needs, partner with Women’s Health Advantage for optimal results.
For more information, please call Jill Redfern RN, Enzyme and Digestive Health Specialist of Women’s Health Advantage at 661-310-7373 or womenshealthadvantage@msn.com .