In the last newsletter, we discussed the truth behind common food labels like humane and organic.  But eggs deserve their own shout-out because of the misleading terms often applied to them. 

However appealing they may sound, cage-free (or free-range) and hormone-free are not meaningful labels for eggs.  Why?

Cage-free chickens still suffer many of the same health issues as their caged counterparts, as they are usually crammed together in pens with no outdoor access.  And the free-range label does not guarantee the hen lived a life of pastoral bliss.  Yes, it must be given the opportunity for outdoor access. But there are no regulations defining the amount, duration, or quality of the time spent outdoors.

As for the hormones, the USDA prohibits the use of hormones in all poultry.  "Hormone-free" eggs are, in fact, nothing special- they are the status quo.

So what should you look for in the egg case? Organic and humane- they're your best bets for the health of the chickens, the earth, and your family.