Which eggs?

hazzie123

Wow times are changing.

Can I just quickly ask,do you lot put your eggs in the fridge? I always do but I`m not sure why I do it cos there not in the fridge in the shop?

hazzie123

Addiscomber wrote:

A lot of manufacturers/supermarket own brands are changing to free range eggs in their products because of consumer pressure.

It is entirely your choice as to which eggs you buy, but please have a look here for some picures of what battery hens look like and ask yourself whether an intelligent living creature should end up like that so that you can save a few pennies a week on eggs http://www.thehenshouse.co.uk/hengallery.html
and here http://www.thehenshouse.co.uk/factsandfigures.html for some information.

I`ve looked and still will buy cheapo eggs.

Eels100

Aaaaaaaaaaaagh this subject drives me nuts!

Before I say any more, I am not defending battery farming here. But I do have a more objective opinion than some perhaps, because I have seen all modes of egg production in action.

Hens have a 'pecking order'. They are also terrible bullies - they will cannibalise their friends if they suffer from stress (which, like it or not, ALL hens do, regardless of production system). Battery hens are caged in groups of four usually, which means that bullies can be picked out by staff and removed before they cause harm to others. This is not possible in a free range system. The birds do not have the opportunity to exhibit normal behaviours, but they are at least protected from injury by others. In the free range situation, birds are housed in large dark sheds but have access to the outdoors at controlled times of day by hatches. These birds exhibit far more types of stress behaviour than their caged counterparts because their outdoor environment is outwith the farm's control (think planes flying overhead, predators, climate changes) and bullies cannot be isolated. The proportion of birds lost to cannibalism and feather pecking is often greater in free range situations.

So what do I buy? Barn eggs, if possible (although you don't see these much). These birds live in enclosures where they can move freely, perch and roost normally and in small enough groups that staff can easily identify bullying.

Of course, if you want really good, really welfare-friendly eggs you need to look somewhere other than the supermarket. Local farms and doorstep sales offer best quality and welfare standards - you can usually inspect the birds enjoying their surroundings!

Also, in response to the poster who suggested that organic milk is more nutritious than bog-standard milk, I feel like I have to point out that is not the case. Organic just means the animals are farmed (usually) to Soil Association standards, which means among other things they are only allowed treatment for an illness once they are unwell (no preventative medicine allowed - they have to actually suffer before they can be treated). Many normal farms could be classed as "organic" in the sense that they don't use pesticides and almost never 'blanket' treat their stock, it's just that it's not cost-effective for them to market themselves as such. I feel that organic farms have much lower welfare standards and less healthy stock, because they are keeping animals in artificial conditions without making the necessary modern provisions that we've developed (such as routine worming and dietary supplements). I never buy organic food - it has no nutritional benefits, contributes to poorer standards and above all it's lining the pockets of supermarkets. Buy non-organic from the farm gate if welfare is your concern.

rhubarbs

Hi,

I always buy free range eggs. I wouldn't be happy buying anything less, either for myself or for the hen. I'll be buying some at the farmers market tomorrow, they are better value than the supermarkets plus they are much tastier.

With regards chicken there was an interesting article in the last edition of the Observer Food Monthly, heres the link:-

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/story/0,,1876749,00.html

And a link about organic milk:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4153951.stm

Eels100

Addiscomber wrote:

http://www.thehenshouse.co.uk/hengallery.html
and here http://www.thehenshouse.co.uk/factsandfigures.html for some information.

I can't believe someone took on a hen with two broken legs, which couldn't stand for 5 weeks, and actually kept it alive. That's proper cruelty. The fact that it recovered is beside the point - it had to suffer like that for a month. At least in the battery farm that bird would have been put down.

ScoobieGirl

hazzie123 wrote:

Can I just quickly ask,do you lot put your eggs in the fridge? I always do but I`m not sure why I do it cos there not in the fridge in the shop?

I do because is says so on the box! But I did always wonder why it's the only thing that you have to refrigerate that isn't in the shop.

It also says to to store pointy side down. I don't get that but I do it too!

ScoobieGirl

Eels100 wrote:

Also, in response to the poster who suggested that organic milk is more nutritious than bog-standard milk, I feel like I have to point out that is not the case.

There is a mounting body of evidence that organic milk is more nutritious than non-organic milk. Several scientific studies have shown that organic milk is naturally higher in omega-3 essential fatty acids, as well as vitamin E and the antioxidant beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A.

The lack of hormones added as well is enough motivation for many.

Eels100 wrote:

I never buy organic food - it has no nutritional benefits

For me the taste difference and knowing it's not be sprayed in cancer causing chemical is reason enough for me, but again there is plenty of research that says it can be better for you

Eels100

ScoobieGirl wrote:

The lack of hormones added as well is enough motivation for many.

I assume you mean growth-promotant hormones? These are illegal in the UK and are not present in milk. All milk and meat products, organic or not, are tested randomly to ensure that any medication or drugs given to the animal are not present in excess or MRLs (maximum residue limits) set for each chemical. Food in the UK is among the safest in the world in this respect.

I am interested in the research regarding Omega3 in organic milk though, if you have any links?

rhubarbs

The organic milk link again:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4153951.stm

ScoobieGirl

Eels100 wrote:

I assume you mean growth-promotant hormones? These are illegal in the UK and are not present in milk.

I am interested in the research regarding Omega3 in organic milk though, if you have any links?

The hormones I was thinking of were the one that make chickens bread to be eaten grow much much quicker than is natural. I can't remember any more details except it was in the observer Sunday supplement about a year or two ago and was on chickens kept in the UK. Have they banned them since then? Think I need to refresh myself on the latest on this.

the milk link I got my info from was from The Soil Association