Helpful Hint #2: Know the Label

So, you are picking up a carton of eggs at the grocery store and you notice one is labeled “natural.” You pick this one thinking it must be healthy since it is “natural.” I’m sorry to bring this to your attention, but you may be wrong. It is important to know what labels mean so you know exactly what you are getting.

Natural– When buying eggs, one should note that the Department of Agriculture considers all eggs natural. The label “natural” on eggs does not mean the egg, or the chicken it came from’s life, has been determined to be healthier in any way.

Notes: For other foods, natural may mean that the ingredients used are not man-made chemicals. But be aware that there are plenty of nature-made products that are bad for your health.

Free Range– This label is unregulated for eggs in the United States. The “Free Range” label means that the chickens are allowed SOME time outside, but it is not a set amount of time. This label may just mean that the chickens had a door open to a small outdoor pen for an hour each day, a door many of them would probably not use.

Notes: For “Free Range” chicken meat, the label is regulated.
“Free Range” has nothing to do with the diet of the chicken, the chicken can still be fed antibiotics and other chicken meat as part of their regular diet
Pasture Raised– This label is often used interchangeably with “Free Range” and means that the chickens have a diet of grass and worms, as they would in the wild. However, other food may be added to their diet like soy, corn, and grain. These birds usually travel in small flocks, as they are moved from pasture to pasture as the grass runs out.

Notes: “Pasture Raised” does not reflect on the diet of the chicken. These chickens can still be fed antibiotics.

Cage Free– The label “Cage Free” is probably one of the most misguiding labels for eggs out there. This term only means that the chickens were not in actual cages. However, chickens living in a barn or hen house are still considered to not be living in cages. These chickens are not guaranteed any outdoor time. Do not confuse “Cage Free” with “Free Range.”

Notes: As with all of the above mentioned labels, “Cage Free” does not reflect on the diet of the chicken. Please be wary of the fact that these chickens can still be fed antibiotics and other unsavory meals.

Vegetarian Diet– This label only ensures that the chicken is fed no meat products. The chicken can still be fed soy, grain, and corn as well as antibiotics.

No Antibiotics– Pretty reasonably, this label means that the chicken was not fed any antibiotics as part of a daily diet.

Notes: The chicken can still be fed antibiotics for health reasons. This label is regulated by the Department of Agriculture.

Organic– The “Organic” label means that the chicken, or egg, was not produced using genetic engineering, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation; as listed in the Department of Agriculture’s rules). The chicken’s feed is free of pesticides, herbicides, and fugicides as well as animal products and commercial fertilizers. No irradiation and growth hormones are allowed to be used on the chicken, as well. The price of the chicken feed of organic chickens is the main source of the price of the chicken products.

Notes: Antibiotics are still allowed to be used in the case of a health issue. The birds are not allowed to be continuously confined, but can be confined at times.

Buy from a local farmer, if possible– when buying from a local farmer you can ask them exactly what they use to feed their chickens, and the type of lifestyle that chicken has.

Thanks,

Caroline 🙂