I’ve decided to take a couple
steps forward in my consumption of foods. The first was to consume healthier
and less commercialized meats. The second was to buy products from local
farmers, and companies, that take care of their animals and the land. The
LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take
care of it. If original man was instructed to take care of God’s
creation, then we should honor that too.
It’s Better for Me
Eating less commercialized foods usually results in a more
nutritious product. Remember how grass fed beef contains many more nutrient values than grain fed? Chickens that eat free range can produce eggs that
contain higher, healthier fats with more micronutrients. Increased Omega-3’s,
Vitamin K, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Beta Carotene can all be found with increased
abundance in these free range goodies. Unfortunately, like anything in this
world, there is a corruption to the system.
We Want Real Free Range
The glorious FDA has very limited
regulations when it comes to organic and free range. Free range constitutes as uncaged
inside barns or warehouses and have some degree of outdoor access, but there
are no requirements for the amount, duration or quality of outdoor
access. Since they are not caged, they can engage in many natural
behaviors such as nesting and foraging. There are no restrictions
regarding what the birds can be fed. This relaxed approach leads to eggs
being produced by hens that get little to no outdoor time. The results can be
seen in the quality of the eggs, which will be shown later.
The guidelines for organic say the birds have to be uncaged
inside barns or warehouses, and are required to have outdoor access, but
the amount, duration, and quality of outdoor access is undefined. They are fed
an organic, all-vegetarian diet free of antibiotics and pesticides. What’s
worse is that the pricetag to call something organic is a leg and an arm. The
reason the price is so high on organic foods is not superiority, but a relapse
from what the FDA charges to deem something organic.
Not All Free Range Eggs Are Created Equal
 |
| Top egg was best from Farmhouse, bottom was best from expensive brand. |
Like I said before, it is easy to tell the difference between
eggs that experience more natural eating and those that are caged too much. I
performed a little experiment where I purchased two brands of eggs. One was
roughly 6 dollars a dozen and claimed to be organic and free range. Another was
about 3 dollars a dozen, and only claimed to be free range. I picked the best
looking, most spotted brown eggs I could see from the batch. I proceeded to
crack them both and examine the quality of the yolk. To my surprise the
cheaper, less labeled egg, had a much darker yolk color. The name of the egg
brand that was superior was FarmHouse eggs, which I could only find at United
Supermarket.
 |
| Left egg shows a much darker yolk, and was from Farmhouse. [camera doesn't do it justice] |
When I re-evaluated the nutrition facts on the back I
realized that the FarmHouse eggs contained a whole extra gram of fat. This
quality of egg was most likely the result of hens that got more outdoor time,
and consumed a healthier diet. The turnaround is more money saved, and better
quality food consumed [we in the biz call that a win, win].
Save Money, Eat Awesome
Sifting through all of the evidence I realized that paying
for an organic label doesn’t always make it worth it. A simple experiment can
reveal whether or not something is living up to its hype. Like I showed here,
FarmHouse eggs produce higher quality products with lower prices all due to
avoiding the FDA organic costs. I highly recommend that anyone who is looking
to eat an improved diet try these eggs out. I just wish they came in bigger
containers!
No comments:
Post a Comment