Free range is an option that is becoming readily available in most places around the country. Although more expensive than animal products that have been farmed in a cruel way, I still believe this is the best option both taste wise and for the benefit of the animal. In 2009,
McDonalds decided to go free range in it's Christchurch and Dunedin stores. Although this is a step in the right direction, unfortunately this is not the case nationwide yet as there is not the supply to meet McDonald's demand. However, the very important question of
how you can tell an egg is truly free range has been raised. This is due to the fact that the free range egg industry is not regulated.
It is obvious that free range eggs have many benefits for both the animals and the consumers. And this
video clip from TVNZ's Close Up shows how free range eggs are a far tastier option than the inferior barn laid and cage eggs. And as
this article by Mother Earth News shows us, free range eggs are a much more nutiricious option.
This is because free range eggs have:
1/3 less cholesterol
1/4 less saturated fat
2/3 more vitamin A
Two times more omega-3 fatty acids
Three times more vitamin E
Seven times more beta carotene
If that isn't proof enough then this photo shows the colour of the egg yolk of an egg from a rescued cage chicken (right) and then an egg from the same group a few weeks later after the it had been allowed to free range (left).
You can read more about the rescued chickens and some of the characteristics of the different types of chicken rearing
here.
It is quite true in what they say that free range does have a better taste to it, but could you possibly give a reasoning behind this idea? That in comparison to both caged and barn eggs? Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding the facts of free range eggs it's really eye-opening to see the beneficial differences.
DeleteThanks for the help :)
DeleteWow that photo says a lot about free range vs caged chickens. I already buy free range eggs but that was because I thought free range chickens would be treated more fairly. Now that there is facts about health benefits of free range eggs, it proves that free range is definitely the way to go!
ReplyDeleteI find it so sad that humans can do these things to animals. I'm not especially enthusiastic towards animals rights but even I can see that it is not a good thing for these defenseless animals to be kept in such living conditions in the name of better business profit.
ReplyDeleteHowever, since the free range farming industry is not regulated, as you have stated, I do wonder how much is the actual difference between free range and cage raised eggs and chickens in terms of nutritional benefits for humans.