According to Time:
“Like any other workers, hens turn out economy, premium and luxury products — known as factory, cage-free and organic eggs — and consumers pay accordingly. A recent survey conducted in one random city — Athens, Ga. — found factory eggs going for $1.69 per dozen, cage-free for $2.99 to $3.59, and organic for $3.99 to a whopping $5.38. But it’s worth it to pay more because you’re getting a healthier product, right? Wrong. [Egg health], is not affected a whit by how a hen is raised…
Don’t organic eggs have the edge in terms of antibiotics and other contaminants? Surprisingly, the USDA has not devoted a great deal of study to the antibiotic question, mostly because the drugs are used sparingly in the egg-laying industry — at least compared with the cattle industry, in which even healthy animals are kept dosed to prevent infections.”
Time’s conclusion = it’s a mistake to buy organic eggs, oh and a “mistake” to buy brown eggs. Really Time?
1. What a shock. I’m oh so surprised that the USDA has spent little time studying antibiotic issues.
2. Certified organic and cage free = NOT the same flipping thing!
3. Organic being compared to healthy again weeeeee!… Wait, did I already mention my utter shock?
4. I suppose if you want to read a sweet little piece about happy vs. not happy hens, by all means visit Time. If not, just ignore this lameness and keep right on buying your organic eggs.
I know Time has the ability to report well; but this piece… for shame.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I do try to eat organics, but I am amazed by the reasons people think I eat organics. They think I do it because it tastes better. Really, I can’t tell the difference, but they seem to. Or they think it’s healthier, and I didn’t do it for that reason either. In some cases it may be, but in others not. It’s the pesticide pollution that is affecting my earth, the ground that I love, the water I need to survive, that’s the reason I go organic. I understand there is a cost difference and know that other people can’t afford it, but I can, so I do. I also grow my own, without chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
If you say – it’s the environment stupid, it’s not as valid, is it?
I agree – most people who know I buy organic think I do it for nutrients; I’m guessing because it’s nutrition, not the planet issues that are splattered all over the news. As I’ve said before though, I’d buy organic even if they 100% proved it was LESS nutritious than conventional. I mainly buy organic to avoid stuff, like poison in food, not to gain stuff like more nutrients; although in turn you likely gain better health and a healthy planet. Also I still don’t believe the hype that organic is less nutritious. There’s no way someone is going to prove to me that chemicals and pesticides are a healthier choice than not. But overall yeah; you sort of have to prove why you eat it to others and there’s not one handy reason – plus also, I agree if you say it’s for the earth people chalk you up as a nutty tree hugger. Not that I care
Watch “Food Inc” and you’ll want to buy the eggs that come from chickens treated more humanely. The real issue here is why don’t more cities allow people to keep hens for eggs? That would be much better for everyone (including the earth). You have to move out to the sticks and drive an hour to work to be able to keep chickens in many areas!
Anyhow, I think the whole organic/cage-free egg issue is less an environmental issue than it is an animal rights and health issue. After all, I hope no one is putting pesticides on chickens
But the antibiotics, bad – I agree.