Back to SoWal Lounge

Feel good, "free range" eggs

30ashopper avatar
SoWal Insider
616 views
Ah, the idyllic red barn. The rays of sunshine streaming over the hillside. You feel good buying those "free range" eggs knowing that the chickens tasked with producing those little protein-filled shells lived happy cage-free lives. The sunny label says so. But those few extra cents you plunk down for the "free range" eggs might be paying a savvy marketer, rather than an ethical farmer, because the government doesn't regulate the use of the phrase "free range" or "cage free" on eggs. Legally speaking, it's meaningless, according to Consumer Reports' Eco Label Decoder.

The Department of Agriculture does have rules for use of the term on poultry. It means chickens must be granted the luxury of exactly five minutes of "access" to the outdoors everyday, a token prize for a short dirty life that can also include an unceremonious severing of the beak, wing-to-wing crowding in a shed that's more hangar than coop, and more chicken poop than you ever want to contemplate while planning a meal.

Those eggs you buy may have been raised ethically, with room enough for hens to roam the yard and peck contentedly at the dirt. But there's no guarantee in the "free range" label.

​

Replies

11
30A Skunkape avatar
Skunky
#2
Your local farmers market is the go to place for good eggs.
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#3
That is just one of many phrases that lobbyists and marketing make useless in determining how your food was actually produced. You can buy "free range" chicken that has never been outside in its life yet complies 100% with the label rules.

They also don't date the eggs by when they are laid, but by when they are packaged. :roll: Freshness is the #1 determinant of good egg flavor according to my cooking magazines, though feed/lifestyle play a big part as well.

These are the chickens who lay my eggs and I am willing to put them up against any "store bought" eggs in a blind taste test. (It actually does have to be a "blind" test because the yolks have a much brighter color due to them having more nutrients.)
sunspotbaby avatar
SoWal Insider
#4
You are aware of the huge egg recall right? I'm calling my free-range chicken friend right now to see if she is still selling eggs. Kerrie? Oh, Kerrie? I need eggs! :wave:
Lynnie avatar
SoWal Insider
#5
A GF told me about 'free range' chickens about 15 years ago and I busted a gut laughing. She said that were happier chickens and produced better eggs.
Yeah, maybe........
What's the huge egg recall?
LuciferSam avatar
Banned
#6
Lenny Bruce writes about how he used to work on Long Island packing "farm fresh" eggs. When they ran out, they would buy their eggs from a supplier in Texas, and transfer them to their local "farm fresh" cartons taking care to pack in a little straw and an occasional bit of chicken poop to make it look authentic. Naturally they had return customers who raved about their freshness.
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#8
228 MILLION EGGS!

That's alot of eggs! Between vegetarians, babies, and non-egg eaters that is practically an egg for every person who lives in the US!

Yet one more recall that does not affect those who buy "non-factory" food BTW.
Beach Fanatic
#9
the government doesn't regulate the use of the phrase "free range" or "cage free" on eggs. Legally speaking, it's meaningless, according to Consumer Reports' Eco Label Decoder.

I've been totally snookered by this!]

Shopper,

I had gotten the idea you were a "small government" guy.

Are you suggesting the gov't should protect consumers from such scams?
30ashopper avatar
SoWal InsiderAuthor
#10
Shopper,

I had gotten the idea you were a "small government" guy.

Are you suggesting the gov't should protect consumers from such scams?

Don't see why, seems we have strong consumer advocate groups and the internet! ;-) Wouldn't you agree?

Here's the key: I get snookered, I blame myself!

Edited

Beach Fanatic
#11
Don't see why, seems we have strong consumer advocate groups and the internet! ;-) Wouldn't you agree?

Here's the key: I get snookered, I blame myself!

Shopper,

Article below deals w/ lax federal oversight of medical devices, in particular, look-alike tubes for various med procedures.

If you, or a member of your family, was a victim of a tube mix-up in a hospital that resulted in death or serious damage, would you still say "I got snookered, I blame myself!"?

In you opinion, should our government (i.e., ourselves) play any role in protecting us from anything--or should individuals be totally responsible?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/health/policy/21tubes.html?src=me&ref=homepage
30ashopper avatar
SoWal InsiderAuthor
#12
Shopper,

Article below deals w/ lax federal oversight of medical devices, in particular, look-alike tubes for various med procedures.

If you, or a member of your family, was a victim of a tube mix-up in a hospital that resulted in death or serious damage, would you still say "I got snookered, I blame myself!"?

In you opinion, should our government (i.e., ourselves) play any role in protecting us from anything--or should individuals be totally responsible?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/health/policy/21tubes.html?src=me&ref=homepage

Governments can set standards to help facilitate safety and better business, but generally yes, I think it's up to the individual.

Checking your forum account

Please wait while we verify your forum account.

New posts