I was listening to NPR the other day and this guy came on discussing the subject of eggs. The ones we eat as in chicken eggs. He said something that I felt was very important that I hadn't know before. Being very concerned over the deplorable conditions of animal lives in these meat and egg factories to the point of the obscene I personally will not have it any more. So I stopped eating meat almost completely and the eggs I buy are from chickens that at least can walk around and have access to the outside.
For those that feelthe same way look for a label or sticker on the egg carton that says "Certified Humane". It has to say exactly that. And yeah you pay more for these eggs. So what I say. I can afford to pay the extra buck and a half for them and that is an insignificant amount for the peace of mind when eating my omlete.
You know those one foot square floor tiles? Typically an egg laying hen never gets more than that amount of area to live in their whole entire lives. There are shades of conditions in between as far as living conditions but most often that 1 square foot or less is it.
By buying humanely produced eggs we all send a greater message to those that make their livings producing eggs that this is what we want.
Remember our consumerism IS the engine that drives what the profiteers do. Its on your shoulders and mine.
Here is an image not one we are used to seeing:
http://certifiedhumane.org/new-post/
From this site:
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/con ... abels.html
Certified Humane
Certified Humane has three levels of certification: (1) regular (cage-free), (2) free range and (3) pasture-raised. Forced molting through starvation is prohibited, but beak cutting is allowed. For cage-free, the birds are uncaged inside barns but may be kept indoors at all times. They must be able to perform natural behaviors such as nesting, perching and dust-bathing. There are requirements for stocking density and number of perches and nesting boxes. For free-range, the birds must be provided with access to an outdoor area for at least six hours per day. The outdoor area need not have any living vegetation, but it must provide each hen with at least 2 square feet (288 square inches) of outdoor space. For pasture-raised, the birds must be placed on a pasture for at least six hours per day, 12 months per year. The pasture must be covered mainly with living vegetation, and each bird must be provided with 108 square feet (15,552 square inches) of pasture. Compliance is verified through third-party auditing. Certified Humane is a program of Humane Farm Animal Care.
Wow...there is a lot more on this humanesociety site that I didn't know. Please folks scroll down and read about other certifications for eggs. There is more to this than I originally thought when I started this thread...
The eggs I buy are from here:
http://www.humaneheartland.org/humane-c ... dale-farms and cost $3.89 at my local store. They most definitely have more flavor and a richer taste. The shell color is brown.
Full descriptions on the 3 levels of "Humane" for egg laying chickens:
http://www.humaneheartland.org/eggs/
Jeez....here's more that lays out the best egg companies and the worst for humanely treated chickens:
http://www.cornucopia.org/organic-egg-scorecard
If anyone knows the subject well and has better alternatives I am all ears.
Please give this a read though and some measure in your thoughts.....
Little by little, you, and me, and everyone, can do a lot....
Paul
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