5 Reasons to Buy Organic Eggs
It’s no secret that I love eggs. In savory oats, on top of hashbrown waffles, in Bibimbap bowls. Whatever the meal or time of day, I’m likely to #putaneggonit.
But while I love eggs cooked every way imaginable, I do believe it’s important to start with GOOD eggs.
Good quality, organic eggs, sourced from chickens who have lived a healthy life.
That’s why I’ve partnered up with Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs to tell you guys about my top 5 reasons to buy organic eggs!
1. They’re Free from Antibiotics
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, there’s no denying that fact. But they are so overused and prevalent in our food system today that it is really quite dangerous to our health. About 80 percent of the antibiotics sold in the US are used in animal agriculture. Those antibiotics end up in the meat, dairy, and eggs we consume—which is no good (and can lead to antibiotic resistance).
Organic eggs come from chickens raised without antibiotics. That means the producers must keep the animals healthy with fresh air and space to roam.
2. They’re Free from Pesticides, Herbicides, and Fungicides
Fun fact: the suffix cide comes from the Latin word cida meaning “killer.” Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are used on some of the crops that we eat, and that we feed our livestock to keep production costs down.
Personally, I like to avoid these harmful chemicals coming in contact with what I eat. Pete and Gerry’s Organic Egg farmers use only natural, organic deterrents to pests on their pasture, and the hens are fed organic feed. This means pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides won’t end up in the eggs or in my body.
3. They’re Free from GMOs
GMOs might be a controversial topic. But I choose to avoid the risk I see associated with them.
Since most of the corn and soybeans grown in our country are genetically modified, non-organic hens are getting a heaping dose of GMOs in their feed. But organic chicken feed by regulation must be free of any gene modified components.
4. They Result In Better Animal Welfare
I do eat animal products, but I strongly believe that if you’re going to eat an animal or something it produces, that animal should have lived a decent life. Pete and Gerry’s Organic hens are treated more humanely than standard egg-laying hens, and I always look for the Certified Humane label that’s on Pete and Gerry’s egg cartons. The label shows their free range farms go above and beyond HFAC’s standards:
- Ample space and shelter, in clean, well-ventilated barns
- Gentle handling to limit stress
- Freedom to do what comes naturally, like roosting, scratching, and “dust bathing”
- Ready access to safe-from-predators fenced in pasture
- Nutritious, high-quality feed free of antibiotics or hormones
5. They’re Better for the Environment
Organic eggs are better for the environment we all live in. Organic farming practices focus on reducing pollution, maintaining healthy soil, and conserving water and other precious resources.
Because there are no pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, antibiotics, or chemical fertilizers used in the production of organic eggs, there’s no risk of those things running off into our rivers and streams.
What the “USDA Certified Organic” Seal Means
This seal, which is regulated by the government, means that:
- Hens are never caged (Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs take their animal welfare standards even farther than the Organic seal requires)
- Antibiotics or hormones are never administered to the hens.
- The hens’ 100% organic feed contains no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or GMOs.
- The feed is also free of animal by-products (and the drug residues/pathogens that may be associated with them). No slaughterhouse waste allowed!
- Farms are inspected at least once a year by a third-party certifier with USDA accreditation.
These are my top 5 reasons for buying organic eggs. It makes me feel good about where I’m spending my money, and the eggs just taste better!
4 responses to “5 Reasons to Buy Organic Eggs”
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Are organic eggs sprayed with chemical sanitizers before they go to the grocery store? I feed my dog egg shells as a source of calcium. I don’t want to be feeding him those toxins. I just learned about the washing and sanitizing of eggs. It’s making me sick to think I’ve been feeding him those toxins. Thank you for your help.
Hi Dawn, I don’t know for sure but my guess is that store bought eggs (even organic) are sprayed with some type of sanitizer to protect consumers from the dirt/feathers/etc that are naturally found on eggs. I bet if you reach out to the brand of eggs you buy they’d be happy to tell you more. Or if you buy eggs from the farmers market I’m sure someone would be able to tell you exactly what you need to know, and whether it’s safe to give the shells to your dog. ❤️
I like Pete and Gerry’s eggs, but I don’t like to buy them because I can’t recycle the plastic they are packaged in. I wish they used a different packaging.
Hi Jan. I am with you, I hate buying anything made of plastic, although the plastic they use is 100% post-consumer recycled material. P&G has addressed this issue on their site https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability thanks for weighing in!