Farm Fresh Eggs; What's The Big Deal?
- meadowrain
- Jan 21, 2024
- 2 min read
You’ve heard the saying, “fresh is best,” this is true for many things, including the nutritional value and taste of a fresh-raised egg.
On average, Americans consume 287 eggs per year. And that's for a good reason. It's a cost effective way to get a vitamin packed meal, that's high in protein relative to its calories. With only 75 calories per large egg, you can receive up to 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of healthy fat with just one egg. It's also packed with essential nutrients like vitamin A, multiple B vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin D, vitamin E, selenium, folate, phosphorus, calcium and zinc.
However, there are nutritional differences between farm fresh eggs compared to those purchased in the grocery store. One of the primary reasons that fresh-raised eggs are more nutritional than conventionally raised eggs is due to the diets of the chickens. Chickens that are roaming the yard or pasture are pecking at grass and bugs, getting more leafy greens and natural proteins than those raised in poultry houses that are likely getting fed a pelleted feed. Studies show that farm fresh eggs have less cholesterol and saturated fat than those purchased from the store. Additionally, they also contain 25% more vitamin E, 75% more beta carotene and up to 20 times more Omega-3 fatty acids, according to a Mother Earth News Study that has been verified multiple times.
Buzz Words
Let's talk about those buzz words you see on your egg cartons. What does cage free mean? How does that differ from traditional methods? What does organic mean for the chickens? And what does a pasture raised chicken look like?
Here is the traditional way that chickens are kept in egg farms:
And here are chickens labeled cage free:
To be certified as an "organic" egg by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, the chickens need to be cage-free, fed an organic diet grown without pesticides, managed without antibiotics and hormones, and have seasonal access to the outdoors. But as you can see in the next photo, that doesn't necessarily mean its a nutritious packed outdoor space.
And in this last image you can see how a pasture raised chickens with flocks in lower numbers could benefit greatly with free access to the outdoors, a denser pasture for more nutritious snacks, and overall a more loving environment.
As with everything you eat, you have a choice; To choose a grocery store item or to support local small business owners. Here the difference is clear on what's better for your health, and the health of the chickens.
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Studies
The chemical composition of free range and conventionally farmed eggs available to Canadians in rural Nova Scotia
Research shows eggs from pastured chickens may be more nutritious
Taste and Nutritional Differences of Non-Factory Farmed vs. Factory Farmed Eggs and Poultry