Free Range or Value eggs?

Ben84

EssexHebridean wrote: »

As for the suggestion regarding the packing stations fraudulently passing on battery eggs as free range, I'm afraid I find the idea extremely implausible.

Unfortunately, this has happened. There was a big thing about it in the papers a few years ago. It affected a fairly statistically small number of free range eggs in the UK, but the volumes were big.

I do actually trust most free range eggs really are free range, and don't want to put people off buying them, but have to accept the free range label is potentially open to misuse.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23374617-details/The+great+free+range+egg+fraud+-+they+came+from+battery+hens/article.do

EssexHebridean

Ben84 wrote: »

Unfortunately, this has happened. There was a big thing about it in the papers a few years ago. It affected a fairly statistically small number of free range eggs in the UK, but the volumes were big.

I do actually trust most free range eggs really are free range, and don't want to put people off buying them, but have to accept the free range label is potentially open to misuse.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23374617-details/The+great+free+range+egg+fraud+-+they+came+from+battery+hens/article.do

I should probably have clarified - I find it implausible that now, bearing in mind the focus on Free Range and higher welfare foodstuffs, this is going on. I am aware that suppliers have been caught doing so in the past, but that is yet another reason why I find it rather unlikely that this is still happening as widely as "sorryusernamesgone" seems to be alledging.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I always go to the local fruit shop down my street.It gets eggs straight from the farm,free range.I know they are free range as I know the farm they come from and if you go to their farm shop,you can see them for yourself.
They cost £1.40 a dozen for large eggs and most of them are double yolkers and always realy fresh.

Mojisola

Gigervamp wrote: »

When I DO get hens (I told you I was determined!), I'd like to have one or two that lay pastel coloured eggs because they're so pretty!

We've got some Araucanas who lay coloured eggs but they aren't very prolific - although the hens are pretty to look at. We've found ours to be a bit skittish, too.

diamondgirl78

See, this thread has got me changing my ways already! I would usually buy my eggs from Tesco (free range), but determined to try to support my local shops more (as I myself 'am' one) I bought 6 nice free range farm eggs for 99p from the butcher this morning on my way in to work. And what lovely friendly service too!

oystercatcher

I wish we had a farm shop locally.
I nearly always buy free range unless we are having a very stringent economy drive.
Being brought up veggie and almost veggie now I couldn't bear to go in a butchers shop for eggs as I can't stand the smell of the meat. So I am stuck with the supermarkets. It's worrying that free range eggs might not be free range. I remember some publicity a while ago and thought they had tightened up regulations now.
I would love to keep my own chickens but we only have the most tiny garden. I've seen bigger chicken runs !

OC

SarahShattered

I'm a free range only person too. I NEVER buy them from the supermarket. I don't trust or believe supermarkets TBH.

I get mine from my veg box scheme or from the farm shop. I can absolutely tell the difference, not only in taste, but also the quality of the egg. They are so fresh, the yolk is nice and domed, the white is thick and translucent, not runny and thin. (yeuck)

And to echo what a few others have said.... I don't buy them if I can't get them from a source I trust. I'd rather go without. And yes, I am on a major budget too, with a family of 5 to feed.

It's worth thinking about what it is that you can make with your eggs. How many meals you can make with your 6 eggs etc... If it comes down to cost per meal, those are calculations that can really show you where your money's going; and that it's really worth having the best that you can get, not just the 'cheapest, nastiest, I don't care where they've come from' eggs.

I can't unknow the knowledge I now have about the conditions for animals in industrial farming. Consequently I have to buy decent eggs.

santiago_2

does anybody use duck eggs? ive never tried them but someone on our road is selling them and i just wondered if they taste the same as hen eggs?

BB1984

duck eggs don't taste the same as hen eggs...they're even more delicious! They're a lot richer and are gorgeous scrambled - buy some and try!

BB

Larumbelle

I use them sometimes - they taste 'stronger' than hens eggs, if that makes any sense. It's the best way I can describe it. I've never used them in baking 'cos it's not normally economical and I can't be doing with the hassle of working out how many to use.

I would far rather buy anything from an ethical local business than give my money to the supermarkets. A personal choice but there you go.