Cage Free, free range, free run, pasture fed, organic, veg fed, antibiotic free and even omega 3 enriched. So, which one is healthier for you... or is it simply a scramble for your breakfast dollars!

Burger King Corporation announced recently that by the year 2017 (which is a good 5 years away if you weren’t counting) they would use only cage free eggs in the production of their products. A huge collective Yippee!!! was heard around the world by animal rights activists at this triumph for the humane treatment of animals by the world’s second largest food chain. Burger King has 12,500 locations worldwide and flexed its giant purchasing power muscle with this announcement. But what does cage free really mean? For that matter what is the difference between cage free, range free, free run, battery raised, and organic? Well, hang in there with me, this will take a little explanation.

Battery eggs – basically battery eggs are from chickens forced to live squished together in small cages.  All creatures.org has an interesting article (with photos) on this method of egg production, but I caution you, this article and accompanying photos is not for the faint of heart. Battery egg production is used primarily for efficiency, eggs are easily accessible, can be collected quickly and chickens are easy to grab and toss at the end of their useful life. HOWEVER, and this is a big however, it is an extremely inhumane and disturbing way of life for the chicken.

Cage Free – basically cage free means that they are not battery raised – that does not necessarily mean they are free to roam the wide open spaces.

Free Run – these can also be known as ‘barn eggs’ in that free run chickens are not kept in cages but usually kept in large open barns, some with access to nests in which to lay their eggs. But with uncertified free run systems, these birds may or may not have access to nest boxes, perches or the outdoors, and they may not have any more space per bird than do battery chickens.

Free Range – are eggs from hens that have access to the outdoors at least for some period of time.  They may have nesting boxes, but again depending on the facility, they may or may not have much more space per bird that battery raised hens.

While free range and free run eggs come from chickens that are handled in a more humane fashion, the eggs are more difficult to gather and may have been laid in less sanitary conditions, making the labor costs and spoilage factors higher than for battery chickens and making cost to the consumer higher. 

Antibiotic free – are eggs produced from hens that are not given antibiotics during their productive life – this does not mean they are organic.

Organic eggs are from chickens given feed that is completely organic – in turn that does not mean that they are antibiotic free.

Omega 3 Enriched - Eggs that contain high amounts of Omega 3 are laid by chickens fed 15-20% ground flax in their diet. This means that an Omega 3 chicken produces eggs with 10 times the amount of Omega 3, and this omega fat is important for the healthy development of your brain, eyes and nerves.

Pasture Raised - "Grass-fed/pastured hens are raised on pasture, as opposed to being kept in confinement and fed primarily grains. Eggs from pastured hens contain up to 20 times more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than those their less fortunate cousins, factory hens. Pastured hens' diets are naturally complemented with bugs, earthworms, and other such critters that give their eggs a huge nutritious oomph. Although not necessarilly organic, pastured hens are usually much healthier and happier than their space-restricted and antibiotic-pumped industrial cousins. Pasturing is the traditional method of raising egg-laying hens and other poultry. It is ecologically sustainable, humane, and produces the tastiest, most nutritious eggs. Pastured eggs also have 10 percent less fat, 40 percent more vitamin A, and 34 percent less cholesterol than eggs obtained from factory farms." Source: Local Harvest.

How can you tell the difference? Packaging. Decide what is important to you as a consumer and look for the packaging that supports your choice.

Is there a difference in taste? Well, here we go, in a commercially produced egg, regardless of the production method – probably not. How do I know? I keep chickens. Yup –  the secret is out, I am a hobby farmer (there goes my standing in the OC). I keep anywhere from 20 to 30 chickens at a time. My current flock is made up of 20 hens, Larry the rooster and 3 silly ducks.  My birds are the true definition of free range or pasture fed as those 24 birds have about 1/3 of an acre in which to roam daily.

Because my hens are allowed to roam, they busy themselves with the task of picking bugs, worms and assorted grasses in their area. As a result of this they lay marvelous large eggs with dark orange, lush, rich yolks. As anyone who has had a fresh free range farm egg will tell you, commercial eggs with their pale yellow yolks look anemic and have far less taste.

Could I compete with a commercial farmer –  absolutely not. My birds have nesting boxes with shavings, shavings on their barn floor, perches and loads of room for each bird in their barn at night. They are happy and healthy and antibiotic free.  On the other hand, birds are dirty. Yes I said it, birds are dirty – the do their business everywhere and you have to make a real effort to keep their home clean. I cannot imagine what it takes to raise 3,000 to 30,000 birds in a clean and healthy environment.

Having said that, I am against battery raised birds and I am certainly a champion for the humane treatment of all animals.  Chickens are amazing animals with personalities of their own. They are curious, fascinating to watch, and can develop some learned behaviors based on repetition such as coming to a certain call, recognizing the rustle of plastic bag with kitchen scraps in it, and running for cover when an eagle flies over. Another sad fact is that due to crowded, cramped conditions, disease, injury and so on, a battery hen’s productive life is two years. My first hens are in their fourth year and still producing beautiful eggs.

On the flip side, it’s easy to be an ‘activist’, but it’s another thing to come up with an alternative to satisfy everyone especially given the U.S. produces approximately 91 billion eggs per year according to the US Department of Agriculture. Cheers to Burger King for taking a step away from the inhumane treatment of these animals, let’s hope that our egg farmers are able to keep up with the egg demand in a humane and healthy way.

In the meantime, if you are able to find them pasture fed or pasture raised eggs are the way to go. A word of caution, the battery hen videos are difficult to watch, but they show the life a battery hen is subject to. The last video is a celebration of a battery hen’s new life.

Leslie Kollar has over 20 years of experience in the health care field in both the U.S. and Canada. She has worked professionally in medical offices and hospital administration, using her BA in Communications/Public Relations and MBA in Marketing. She has also seen the other side of the health care coin as a 15 year cancer survivor. As a survivor she is passionate that each and every person is and should be responsible for their own health - and with this passion she hopes to inspire, inform and educate through HealthWorldNet. Leslie can be reached at  LK Communications [email protected]