Sure, all things have to be considered and technology has to be used if it is to our advantage. I can't help think however, that things have gone too far the other way and common sense, in some cases, is lacking or sacrificed for a quick profit.
Standard
Free Range
Sure, all things have to be considered and technology has to be used if it is to our advantage. I can't help think however, that things have gone too far the other way and common sense, in some cases, is lacking or sacrificed for a quick profit.
I think you raise an interesting point altheskeptic. Having a food conscience is a luxury many simply cannot afford.Originally Posted by altheskeptic
Want to know what I think about books? Check out https://biisbooks.wordpress.com/
Sure some farm animal conditions are horrible, but it brings the price down, which allows for poorer people to afford meat and dairy. It's a tough call, but I'd rather raise the living standard of people.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
The issues of GMO and factory farming are complicated and aren't as black and white as people tend to make them.
My primary concern with GMOs is the patenting of the seeds which renders farmers in developing countries financially dependent on foreign corporations.
GM? GMO? Sorry?
I know what you are saying, but I think it is somewhat counter-productive to think like this in the long-term. You have to start asking yourself if meat/eggs brought up under such conditions actually give long term health benefits for the individuals who are buying them. Is it really raising the standards of people eating really poor quality meat/dairy? I have my doubts.
Personally, if I couldn't afford to buy even the mid-range meat/eggs then I wouldn't buy them at all; I think I'd be better off getting my protein from other sources. Or, instead of having say chicken once a week I would have it once a fortnight and have the proper stuff. I'm not criticising those who do otherwise I'm just saying what I would do.
Not sure about the vegitarian feed thing. Your average free range hen eats all the animal protien it can scratch up with a great deal of relish. I think there are certain amino acids a hen needs, that are only found in animal protiens. Fishmeal is the usual source in commercial feeds - If you've ever noticed a fishy tasting egg- that's why.
Genetically modified organisms.
It's a balancing act - given that some people are poor and unable to afford the better foods and naturally go for the cheapest.
I think it should be a aspiration for a society, though, to reduce suffering where it can. We can do little as individuals, but vote with our wallets if we are able, yet over time the awarenes of battery hens has grown and the legislation has turned in favour of free range in the UK. Perhaps it can happen with cattle too given time.
By the way, I bought half a dozen free range eggs for 89p today at a cheap grocers in town,
With anything,and that goes double here in the U.S., do your homework. If someone makes a claim... listen carefully... think... then ask the 64 dollar question.
Where's the evidence?
Oh please Neely, I've been eating standard meat and eggs all my life and I'm pretty fit and healthy. Everyone in my family has. The overwhelming majority of people do. If - and that's a big big if - there is a nutritional plus to free range whatever, it's got to be extremely marginal. Frankly I don't even believe there is. You're being sucked into an advertising campaign.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-range_eggsMisconceptions
Free range does not imply in any way that the hens were fed any differently than on normal commercial farms. The label "free roaming" does not describe feed supplies, which means that free-range hens can be fed the same animal-derived byproducts or GMO crops as in other non-organic farms. This is also the main reason why free-range eggs are cheaper than organic eggs.
Consumers of free-range eggs want eggs from hens that are kept under traditional low-density, free-range conditions. Critics of EU-style free-range regulations point out that commercial free-range egg farming, in general, does not live up to these consumer requirements, since the regulations allow the use of yarding rather than free range. Yarding combines a high-density poultry house with an attached fenced yard, and both its methods and results are closer to high-density confinement than true free range.[5]
Free-range eggs may be broader, and have more of an orange colour to their yolks[6] due to the abundance of greens and insects in the diet of the birds. An orange yolk is, however, no guarantee that an egg was produced by a free-range hen. Feed additives such as marigold petal meal, dried algae, or alfalfa meal can be used to color the yolks.[7]
Nutritional Content
Data from reliable research is scarce; however, some small studies suggest the nutritional content of eggs from genuine free-range hens (hens that forage daily on a grass range) is superior to that of eggs produced by conventional means. These studies report higher levels of Omega 3 and Vitamins A and E, and lower levels of total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and Omega 6.[8][9][10][11]
A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found no nutritional benefits to free-range eggs.[12]
I'll believe the US Dept of Agriculture until proven otherwise.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
Ah, I see. Thanks, OrphanPip.
And my grandad has been smoking since he was 12...Oh please Neely, I've been eating standard meat and eggs all my life and I'm pretty fit and healthy. Everyone in my family has. The overwhelming majority of people do. If - and that's a big big if - there is a nutritional plus to free range whatever, it's got to be extremely marginal. Frankly I don't even believe there is. You're being sucked into an advertising campaign.
One question then, standard or free range?
Standard eggs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4_R5sGHIGo
Or Free Range?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7M3WbIemi4
Actually, I have issue with the term "standard" because to me there is nothing standard about that. To me what is standard is normal and that's not, or shouldn't be.
I'm not a scientist, and can make no such claim based on any evidence other than my own common sense, which tells me that it cannot be but beneficial to take the free range option looking at those conditions.
For the sake of about 5/10p per egg extra, personally I think I'll go with the latter; tastier, healthier, morally acceptable option. But rightly, it is up to people to decide that for themselves.
Hey, what a coincidence. As it turns out my current issue of Nutrition Action (a nutrition newsletter I receive monthly) has a article on cage versus cage-free chickens. Most of the article deals with the ethics of caged raised chickens, and to be honest I'm moved by it ("A typical caged hen lives in an area no bigger than this page.") and the increased risk of salmonella from caged raised chickens. We had an instance here in the US a few months ago where salmonella from eggs effected a number of people (I think a couple of people might have even died) and they had to recall half a billion eggs. I can't even imagine a half a billion eggs. I wonder how many eggs are laid in the US every day.
As for nutrient claims, while the article doesn't spend a lot of words on it, it does say a lot depends on the feed the growers give the hens. "Caged and caged-free hens typically eat the same corn-based diet, so there's no nutritional difference between their eggs. But some producers supplement their hen's diets with ingredients that raise the level of some nutrients."
Frankly, if you're basing your egg purchasing decision on possible nutritional advantage, I think it's not worth it. First of all the modern diet contains more than enough daily nutritional content. Very few people (probably alcoholics and drug addicts being the exception) today don't get proper nutrition from a balanced diet. Whatever extra you might be getting from caged free eggs is unnecessary. Second, I don't think you really know what the nutritional content of the eggs are. How do you prove what the farmer fed the hens?
But if you're basing the decision on humane treatment of the animals, I understand and I might in time go along with it too. Good post to Paul a few comments above here.
Last edited by Virgil; 10-31-2010 at 08:42 PM.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
Chickens are so fun. I say you need 20-30 at least. You can always give those extra eggs away.
My eggs have yolks that are a dark yellow, almost orange. I think there is a huge difference in taste. Maybe it's a visual thing and my mind is just tricking me.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
