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"Humans impact the earth in many different ways, but one of the greatest impacts is by simply feeding everyone. Just think about the amount of land that's used, and the tons of animal waste produced so that you can eat chicken, pork or beef. Now, multiply that by the number of humans on earth per day. The numbers would be mind boggling. But humans can help lessen those impacts by making wise purchasing decisions. The Environmental Magazine has some wonderful articles on Green Living and how to Eat Healthy, and this article about 'Happy Eggs' has a lot of insight.
"
— Woodchuck
Happy Eggs
"Free Range," "Cage Free," "Organic" — What's the Story?
by Starre Vartan - a Connecticut-based freelance writer
Story excerpt taken from the E/The Environmental Magazine website
at www.emagazine.com
 In
the past 10 years, the egg has undergone a remarkable transformation,
from a humble provider of protein, vitamins and minerals to an all-purpose
edible conduit through which beneficial nutrients or potentially harmful
chemicals can pass into the human body. As Americans become more critical
of what they eat, small farmers and large-scale agribusiness have
responded with a bewildering array of choices. And with the increasing
variety of food products, even basics like eggs can confuse consumers.
The everyday egg has undergone some changes lately, giving consumers
a range of choices that are better for them — and better for
the chickens.
In any reasonably enlightened grocery store, the consumer can choose
between "free range," "cage-free" and "organic"
eggs. One brand may be "fortified with omega-3's,"
and another from hens fed only with "natural grains."
One package is simply labeled "natural." What do these
different labels actually mean? And what is their significance to
people with widely varying needs, such as a heart disease sufferer,
a nursing mother, a vegetarian and an animal rights activist? And
weren't eggs supposed to be bad for you anyway, being packed
with fat and cholesterol?
The truth is that although eggs' nutritional value has been
demonized in the past, they are a valuable source of protein, vitamins
and minerals. A large egg has about 215 grams of cholesterol (about
70 percent of the daily allowance), meaning that it is probably best
to eat them in moderation. However, eggs do contain heart-healthy
nutrients such as antioxidants, folate and B-vitamins.
Organic and cage-free eggs have shown seven-fold growth since 1997.
"Specialty eggs," as Linda Braun, consumer services director at the
American Egg Board terms them, "Amount to about five percent of the
total U.S. egg market." But this growing popularity has allowed smaller
organic family farms to compete with the mechanized egg-producing
giants, since they can charge up to twice as much for a dozen eggs.
In fact, many smaller farms have been able to stay in business because
customers will pay—some because they care about animal rights,
some because they prefer organic foods, and others because they believe
organic eggs just taste better. "Some of our customers in their 70s
and 80s call us and tell us they haven't tasted an egg like ours in
years," says Jesse LaFlamme, whose father is Gerry of Pete and Gerry's
Farm, a family-run egg producer in New Hampshire.
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not rate the
taste of products, it does oversee all domestic egg production. Although
eggs can now carry the USDA Organic label, the agency doesn't
regulate any other claims made on egg packages. The organic label,
as defined by the new official standards, means that neither the hens
nor their feed can be subjected to antibiotics, hormones, pesticides
or herbicides. As for other package descriptions, LaFlamme sums it
up when he says, "‘All-natural' is one of the biggest
loopholes going. There are no guidelines around for that. It's
in the hands of the consumer to sort it out."
Continue
reading more about this fascinating issue, free-range chickens, and
animal cruelty issues on the E/The Environmental Magazine website.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION:
E/The Environmental Magazine
Subscription Department:
(Subscriptions are $20/year)
P.O. Box 2047, Marion, OH 43306 U.S.A.
(815) 734-1242
On the World Wide Web:
www.emagazine.com
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