3 ms·

AFAIK, free-range and cage free are not heavily regulated terms like organic, which is a registered and trademark enforced term. At best they just mean the hens

AFAIK, free-range and cage free are not heavily regulated terms like organic, which is a registered and trademark enforced term. At best they just mean the hens have a bit more room to move around. Neither of them actually mean there is no cage. It's why we see "pasture raised" as the more premium marketing term. It still doesn't mean much without looking into the specific farm.

bluGill 2y ago
Real pasture raised eggs do taste better. I believe this is because the chicken get to eat bugs - store bought eggs that advertise "fed an all vegetarian diet" taste worse than regular store bought - though both are bad. (taste is of course subjective). Most store bought pasture raised eggs taste just like any other store bought egg - sure the chickens get to pasture but there are too many for them to get enough bugs in their diet.
- bombcar 2y ago
  It's well known that you can change egg taste by changing chicken feed, some people swear by it. But the more the chicken can "graze naturally" the more likely it is getting everything it wants, which may improve health and taste.
pests 2y ago
Michigan just switched to cafe-free only at the start of a year due to a new law going into effect. Prices were increased around the holidays as retailers preemptively switched their stock. Might not be well defined but I’m sure it’s defined enough to be law.
- mikeyouse 2y ago
  Right - here's the summary of the changes: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/food-dairy/laws/Cage-Free-Egg-Law-Summary.pdf?rev=55ed2e91324348aba00269a126b01ea9&hash=F656CF61A7780D52338F7560958EBDC2 https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdar... And the specific section of the law defining 'cage free' for Michigan: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-287-746 https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-287-7... There may be some flexibility in consumers' understanding of the terms, but of course the legislature has actual rules.
russdill 2y ago
Certain 3rd party certification systems exist, such a https://certifiedhumane.org/ https://certifiedhumane.org/

bluGill 2y ago

Real pasture raised eggs do taste better. I believe this is because the chicken get to eat bugs - store bought eggs that advertise "fed an all vegetarian diet" taste worse than regular store bought - though both are bad. (taste is of course subjective). Most store bought pasture raised eggs taste just like any other store bought egg - sure the chickens get to pasture but there are too many for them to get enough bugs in their diet.

bombcar 2y ago
It's well known that you can change egg taste by changing chicken feed, some people swear by it. But the more the chicken can "graze naturally" the more likely it is getting everything it wants, which may improve health and taste.

pests 2y ago

Michigan just switched to cafe-free only at the start of a year due to a new law going into effect. Prices were increased around the holidays as retailers preemptively switched their stock. Might not be well defined but I’m sure it’s defined enough to be law.

mikeyouse 2y ago
Right - here's the summary of the changes: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/food-dairy/laws/Cage-Free-Egg-Law-Summary.pdf?rev=55ed2e91324348aba00269a126b01ea9&hash=F656CF61A7780D52338F7560958EBDC2 https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdar... And the specific section of the law defining 'cage free' for Michigan: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-287-746 https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-287-7... There may be some flexibility in consumers' understanding of the terms, but of course the legislature has actual rules.

russdill 2y ago

Certain 3rd party certification systems exist, such a https://certifiedhumane.org/ https://certifiedhumane.org/