ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION: Cracking the Cage-free eggs code
Egg labels defined
Cage free: Hens roam freely in an indoor barn or building, which allows natural behaviors, and unlimited access to food and water. Beak cutting is permitted.
Free range: Free-range hens live uncaged inside barns with continuous outdoor access. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are allowed.
USDA organic: Hens are uncaged, with some outdoor access, the duration of which is not defined. They are fed an organic vegetarian diet free of antibiotics, hormones and pesticides. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are allowed.
Natural: The USDA requires meat, poultry and egg products labeled "natural" to be minimally processed and have no artificial ingredients. On egg cartons, this label has not meaning related to farm practices.
Omega-3: Hens are fed fish or flaxseed, but this label has no relevance to animal welfare.
Animal Welfare Approved: Hens are cage free with open outdoor perching access. Natural molting is mandatory and beak cutting is prohibited. Not USDA regulated.
(Environmental Nutrition is the award-winning independent newsletter written by nutrition experts dedicated to providing readers up-to-date, accurate information about health and nutrition in clear, concise English. For more information, visit www.environmentalnutrition.com.)
