Hillandale Farms: Important Details When Buying Eggs

 

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Hillandale Farms discusses what you need to consider when buying eggs.

Hillandale Farms: How to Buy Eggs Like an Expert.

Have you noticed yourself standing in the grocery at the egg section for 10 minutes trying to figure out the difference between all the kinds of eggs? Are you stumped with labels like free-range, free-roaming, cage-free, organic, and vegetarian? What do they all mean? It might seem that your brain has been lightly scrambled, but fret not. 

Today, Hillandale Farms discusses some important terms you need to know to help you decide which eggs to buy.

Free-range / free-roaming 

According to USDA regulations, producers must show the agency that the chickens have been allowed access outside their cages and homes. That said, it's important to note that this does not ensure a happy meadow where fluffy chickens are fluttering about, living their lives, and scratching; it only means that the structure in which they're housed must have a door to the outside. 

Hillandale Farms says that some farms provide a great outdoor life for their flocks. However, it's also likely that the hen laying your eggs has never seen the light of day.

Cage-free 

There is no legal definition for " cage-free," but many factory farms raise their chickens in small wire enclosures known as battery cages. The well-being of animals in the food industry has become an increasingly important topic in recent years. One of the key concerns is the amount of space provided to hens in their living quarters. 

learnpoultry.com 

The traditional model allowed for insufficient room for the hen to stretch her wings, but thanks to the pressure from large purchasers such as Walmart, McDonald's, and Denny's, the industry is moving toward a system with larger nesting boxes and perches. It is a win for both the hens and consumers who value the ethical treatment of animals. As more companies demand better conditions for the animals they use, we can only hope that the industry continues to prioritize animal welfare.

However, Hillandale Farms says that even with these bigger living areas, these aren't necessarily the best for the birds, as they may still have their beak tips removed to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. It happens when chickens are kept in close quarters.

Pasture-raised 

Hillandale Farms explains that these chickens have the greatest amount of roaming room. They spend their days outside and nights indoors for protection. However, the beak clipping may still happen. Also, "pasture-raised" is an industry terminology not legally defined by the USDA.
 
Cruelty-free 

This term is pretty vague and certainly not legally defined. That said, it's generally meant to indicate that the eggs came from chickens that live as naturally as possible. It means that they live within a backyard flock. It may also mean that chickens may be considered too old to sell eggs and would be killed; instead, they live out their lives in a sanctuary. 

According to Hillandale Farms, a certain sector of the vegan community has deemed these to be acceptable to eat. 


Hillandale Farms began in 1958 when Orland Bethel switched career paths and borrowed money to purchase an egg company, which became Hillandale Farms. Today, it raises more than 20 million chickens for eggs and is among the top five egg producers in the United States. For quick updates, follow this Hillandale Farms page.

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