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Food manufacturers have attempted to demonize eggs for decades. It is infinitely more profitable to convince the public to eat Egg Beaters and processed vegetable oils than to encourage them to consume the non-patentable perfection that is the egg.
Even folks who see through the marketing hype against eggs that is cleverly disguised as “science” frequently get waylaid by the free range and organic eggs labeling on egg cartons.
The truth is that buying organic, free range eggs from the supermarket or healthfood store is no guarantee that the birds lived a healthy life. What’s more, the eggs may not even be that nutrient dense. You’re safer buying duck eggs or goose eggs as these types of birds are more resistant to industrialized living. Even when domesticated, they eat more closely to their native diet than chickens.
Let’s take a look at why organic chicken eggs are a scam.
Organic Eggs Reality Check #1
Did you know that there are no requirements for the quality or amount of time spent outside for organic eggs or even free range eggs? This means that organic eggs could actually be from hens who get basically no bugs in their diet from pecking in the ground. If the hens don’t get to peck around in the ground for grubs and insects, the eggs they produce will have drastically reduced nutritional value – organic or not.
Organic Eggs Reality Check #2
Did you know that the hens from a free range or organic eggs farm can still have their beaks cut and be subjected to forced molting which involves starving them for 7-14 days which can in some cases kill them?
Organic Eggs Reality Check #3
Organic eggs marked as “cage free” does not mean that the hens have access to the outdoors or even daylight! The hens could actually be running around inside with artificial lighting on a concrete floor and the eggs still qualify as cage free!
The only way to get truly healthy eggs where you can be sure the hens are not abused is to buy local from a farmer you trust, not organic eggs from the store!
There is no way around this folks that I have found. You must start connecting with the people in your community if you really want to source some decent eggs!
Folks in my buying club regularly tell me how shocked they are when they run out of the eggs sourced locally and buy a carton of organic eggs from the store how puny, pathetic and bland tasting they are. They are also incredibly expensive.
Not only will you more than likely save yourself some money buying eggs locally, you will also be helping a local business remain viable and improving the nutrient density of your diet all at the same time!
Organic eggs most definitely does not always mean better!
Need more egg recipes once you’ve found a quality local source? Try these breakfast egg ideas, easy lunch egg recipes, and dinner egg recipes for inspiration!
Below is a fantastic infographic on the reality behind the egg industry created by Kristin Lindquist. What factoids did you find most alarming?
More Information
Best Egg Substitute (plus Video)
Organic Store Eggs Just Don’t Stack Up
What Oxidizes the Cholesterol in Eggs?
Think You Have Fresh Eggs? Here’s How to Tell
We have a neighbor who feeds their chickens chicken feed from the feed store. I’d rather buy organic eggs from the store…wouldn’t they be better?
I think it’s unfair to call store-bought organic eggs a “scam.” People need to read, and understand labels, and what terms like “natural, cage-free, free-range, etc” mean. They’re still “organic” and meet the organic guidelines. Not all store-bought organic eggs are out to dupe the consumer. And I thank God they are available to me when I don’t have access to a local farm supply.
I live in the middle of LA. No local farms here and I don’t have a yard to raise my own chickens, neither do my neighbors. Best I can get is pastured eggs from whole foods at $7.99 a dozen! So should o not bother any more?
Try farmfreshtoyou food delivery service! It works in LA and you can get local eggs delivered to you 🙂 they are delicious!
If you want to try it out for ten dollars off, use my ref code NANC8672. Hope that helps! 🙂
I hate how every carton of eggs in our stores says “grain fed” or “vegetarian fed” which both mean GMO corn and soy fed. Chickens are omnivores and foragers for goodness’ sake!
i have paStured hens, BUT MY FEED IS not organic. ideas?
My chickens have pretty much stopped laying. 14 laying hens doing nothing and I have to buy eggs.
I sometimes get organic eggs from the local store, but mostly get them from a co-worker who has chickens in her backyard. Her eggs are “puny” LOL, but the flavor! What is interesting is the yolks are so much more orange in color than the organic “factory” egg. (Still a factory egg even though they call it free range. Ha)
There’s a HUGE difference! We started getting ours from a local farmer & when he’s run low b/c they’re not laying, I’ve had to get organic store eggs again. It was like eating rubber & the yolks were drastically lighter!
All of the farm fresh eggs from both local farmers markets and from friends that raise chickens in my area are fed round-up ready corn. These eggs give my daughter a rash from head to toe. Until I find another organic source, I’m stuck with egglands best organic from the store.
See if there’s a local WAPF organization in your city. The members may be able to point you to farmers who sell eggs directly to consumers.