Finding a Good Egg: Conventional, Free-Range, Cage-Free, Pasture-Raised or Organic?

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

This question frequently comes up during conversations with cancer survivors. Despite my many years of education, this one stumped even this dietitian. Which egg is best? Is one actually better than another, or are the names just marketing ploys with little meaning?

The May 2011 issue of Prevention Magazine recently addressed this very topic. I don’t normally read Prevention; however, a neighbor left this issue at my doorstep opened to an article entitled “A Good Egg,” and it caught my attention.

First of all, what differentiates each type of egg?

Conventional or caged eggs come from farms with tens of thousands of hens living in cages inside buildings the size of a football field, with access to corn and soy-based feed and water. Designed for efficiency, conventional eggs are typically most cost-effective.
Organic eggs have a much higher level of oversight. Many organic eggs are produced in the same environments as conventional eggs; however the hens are fed organic feed that contains no pesticides or slaughterhouse by-products. Hens on organic farms must be cage-free and have access to the outdoors. Organic farmers cannot use antibiotics to treat their chickens.
Cage-free eggs must come from hens living in an open space rather than a cage, but the open space can be inside a crowded building – it does not mean the hens have access to the outdoors. Both organic and conventional eggs can be cage-free.

Free-range eggs are similar to cage-free, except the birds have outdoor access; however, the quantity or quality of outdoor space is not defined.

Pasture-raised hens are moved to a different patch of land every day when the fence posts are moved, which allows the chickens to naturally hunt for insects in a new crop of grass. Being outdoors without crowded environments keeps infections from spreading and allows chickens to engage in natural behaviors.

Interestingly, when it comes to the safety of eggs (i.e. the risk of getting salmonella) much controversy exists. Conventional farmers contend that cleanliness is more difficult to maintain in cage-free facilities. Organic farmers argue that fewer birds lowers the risks. The bottom line? Organic does not mean salmonella-free. The risk of salmonella exists with any eggs, yet remains low overall.

So the verdict for cancer survivors? Ideally, I would recommend finding a small-scale local farmer raising pasture-raised hens by visiting a local farmer’s market; however, that may not be possible for everyone. If this option isn’t viable, choose organic free-range eggs at the market if you eat eggs more than once a week. If eggs are not something you eat often, then conventional may be just fine.

Finding a Good Egg: Conventional, Free-Range, Cage-Free, Pasture-Raised or Organic?

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