 August 20th, 2010
11:30 AM ET
Got eggs on the brain? In light of the salmonella-based recall of 380 million eggs from Iowa's Wright County Egg, we've hatched up a primer on a few common terms. Free-range: The USDA does not specify the quality or size of the outside range nor the duration of time an animal must have access to the outside or the amount of space available to them, and there is no mandate that the chickens are fed organically or are hormone and antibiotic-free. For a chicken - and their eggs - to be labeled "free-range" or "free-roaming" the USDA regulations state, "Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside." According to the Egg Safety Board, outside the United States, free-range "denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals are allowed to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner." As author Michael Pollan notes in 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' – his 2006 treatise on the origins of several modern foods – "Since the food and water remain inside the shed, and since the little doors remain shut until the birds are at least five weeks old and well settled into their habits, the chickens apparently see no reason to venture into what must seem for them an unfamiliar and terrifying world." There's a very good chance that a free-range chicken, raised for either eggs or meat, has never seen the light of day. Cage-free: There isn't a legal designation eggs as cage free. Many factory farms keep their laying hens in so-called "battery cages" - typically rows and rows of wire cages in which chickens are given insufficient room to accommodate their wingspan. In a study by the Humane Society of the United States, Dr. Suzanne Millman, Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, Canada reports that "The recommended space allowance for laying hens in some countries is 60-80 square inches per hen, barely enough for the hen to turn around and not enough for her to perform normal comfort behaviors; however, many hens are allowed less than even that meager amount." In a cage-free facility, battery cages are not used, and typically a hen will have enough room to walk around and extend her wings, but the facilities may still be crowded, and birds may still be "debeaked." This entails the trimming of a portion of a bird's beak in order to combat cannibalism and feather pecking that may occur among birds kept in close quarters. In July, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed A.B. 1437 into effect, making California the cage-free state in the US. The bill requires that starting in 2015 all whole, in-shell eggs sold in California must come from hens that are able to stand up, lie down, turn around, and fully extend their limbs without touching one another or the sides of an enclosure. Organic: For eggs to be labeled "organic," they must come from farms that meet the USDA's National Organic Standards and are routinely inspected to ensure compliance. Hens must be fed organic feed - no animal byproducts or genetically modified or "GMO" crops - produced on land that has been free from the use of toxic and persistent chemical pesticides and fertilizers for a minimum of three years. The hens themselves must be maintained without hormones and other intrusive drugs and antibiotics may only be used in cases in cases of outbreak or disease. They're also kept in a cage-free environment and allowed access to the outdoors. Consumer's best defense However, none of this ensures that the eggs produced by any given methodology are safe. New York University professor Marion Nestle, who maintains the Food Politics website tells Eatocracy, "It’s less likely for small flocks to carry Salmonella, but it is by no means impossible." Salmonella bacteria, generally contracted from contaminated poultry, meat, eggs, or water, affects the human intestinal tract. It's often transmitted to laying hens when rodents get into the flocks' feed, and their feces transmit bacteria to the birds. A consumer's best defense is to wash all egg shells, store eggs at 40F or below, in the interior of the refrigerator, rather than the door, which is subject to variable temperatures, and cook eggs - yolks and all - to a temperature of 160F. Consumers with questions should visit www.eggsafety.org or call Wright County’s toll-free information number (866-272-5582), which contains a message outlining recall instructions for consumers. Consumers who believe they may have purchased the recalled shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. See all egg recall information on Eatocracy and full coverage on CNN Health |
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Since there is snow beats pro on the ground and she's standing in turbine pro beats her undies while jackson beats watching Eiffel Tower, she'd probably be thankful should you hurry.
The benefits of raising chickens are rediculous. I have been raising chickens for over ten years for their eggs, I have noticed a change in my healthy completely. I eat 10 eggs a day for thier protein and I will never go back to ever getting store bought, farm raised eggs. It is unethical and redicuously unhealthy. I think we will see a huge shift ro raising our very own chickens very soon. Thank you for the great points.
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The subsequent time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I do know it was my choice to learn, but I truly thought youd have something attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you possibly can fix when you werent too busy searching for attention.
Under stressed conditions all animals produce a distressed hormone that is assimilated by the human body, long term consumption will most probably develop in psychic diseases and cancer. Is that a good reason for us to be concerned? I think part of the problem lies in information and education.
Kat,
Your article is based on poor research. You state, "For a chicken – and their eggs – to be labeled "free-range" or "free-roaming" the USDA regulations state, "... If you click the link it states very clearly that this is for FSIS regulation. They cover meat, poultry and egg PRODUCTS (processed eggs)...they do not have authority over labeling regulations on shell eggs...all of the definitions you gave regard broiler chickens and how that meat can be labeled, not eggs.
I only use free-range, cage-free, hormone-free, organic, PETA approved brown eggs produced by union chickens.
I like watching everyone bash WalMart like they're the bad guys. 90% of the food in WalMart is the exact same brands being sold in Safeway, Kroger and every other supermarket across the country! Also, over the past year or two, WalMart has slowly been implementing a ton of "organic" vegetables, meat, dairy products, etc into their stores. As in everything in life, you get what you pay for. Stop being so cheap and star being smarter consumers!
The majority of you are idiots and should find something better to do with your time. Less than 1% of you actually know what you're talking about and the other 99% just make things up as they go along. Something they once read off another internet article. After that, they make up the details they can not remember and then some other idiot comes along, reads that comment, uses it on another forum, replaces some more information with their own "thoughts" or "opinions" and state them as fact and by this time, less than half of what was written is truth and the other half is made up B.S. that someone says is fact. Get a life people :) Everything and everyone is trying to kill you. Everyone is out to get you. It's all about politics and money. Blah blah blah.. Who cares? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If you're that worried about it, cook your eggs fully. Everything gives you cancer or some disease or some sort of bacterial infection. Again, blah blah blah. Life is rough... GET OVER IT! :) Flame away, I doubt I'll be back to read any of it :P
City people!!! You cannot leave chickens out 24×7; they will be consumed by predators. They at least have to be put up in a large coop or pen at night. Foxes, raccoons and hawks love to eat chickens. We have been keeping about 30 to 50 chickens on our small ranch in Florida for about 7 years. Free range conditions change with the weather. Because of a severe winter and reduced food supply, we have to keep our flock in their chicken house (larger than your master bedroom) 24 hours per day unless we can be there to supervise and chase off the foxes. Free range may produce healthier eggs, but it does not necessarily mean a healthier chicken when the consequences are having half your flock consumed by predators. Been there – done that!
i love beyonce
The level of panic here is pretty humorous, given that the number of eggs involved in the current recall amounts to less than 1% of the nation's total yearly egg production.
My approach to this problem is to ignore it, saving my energy for things that actually matter.
We need to encourage Backyard Chickens for many reasons- food safety and availability is paramount.
So, chickens and eggs produced in an amateur's backyard with no supervision or regulation are safer than those produced under government oversight under industry standards?
I hardly think so. Food poisoning used to be distressingly common when people raised their own foods – it would be even worse if a bunch of part-time hobbyists were doing it. The only difference between then and now is that in the past, cases were isolated to a single farm, or maybe a single town at most, whereas now potential contamination can spread across the entire state.
The idea that small farms are somehow safer is ridiculous. They're not, and they are probably less safe than larger facilities on a unit basis. The only advantage is that their effect, when things go sour, is more limited.
inc – you've clearly never been to a modern cage or cage-free layer barn. Go make friends with a farmer and thank them for feeding YOU today.
Cooking my yolks = sacrilege.
Not eating raw cookie dough is tyranny.
Just saying.
A consumer's "best defense" is stop trusting the government to do something you can do yourself - go buy a couple hens, read a pamphlet on how to raise chickens and have fun. Grandma always had a few chickens running around the yard and fresh eggs almost every other day. Very low maintenance as long as there are bugs and some grain to eat. And for apartment dwellers, no reason why the local community garden can't set aside an area for a coop and some space for chickens and create a coop to share eggs (besides its good fertilizer for the plants).
There's no such thing as 'ethical' meat. They all go to the same slaugherhouse. Go vegan! http://www.goveg.com/
I've been doing it for 8 months and it's not that hard, people.
Does anyone know if Trader Joe's is as ethical as they claim to be? I buy our eggs, meat and dairy there thinking that I can trust them, but now I read this about the free-range misnomer and am feeling skeptical.
The organic eggs are definitely the way to go. Organic chickens are given no growth-hormones, no antibiotics, and they're raised in a cage-free, pesticide free environment. It's more ethical AND it's healthier for us to eat.
" If eggs are pasteurized to a 5 log reduction, then the Salmonella is comletely destroyed (inside and outside the egg) and the egg is safe to consume in any format. ".......
And you believe that? Scientists say this strain is different; it can not be destroyed by heat. I happen to live in Iowa and DeCoster has a long history of pollution violations for hog and chicken manure. The irony is that he is a fundamentalist Christian who has donated much money to right wing Christian causes.
Yes Brian, I beleieve it because it is fact. If done correctly, pasteurization destroys Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). Go to their website and do a little reading (www.safeeggs.com). The process is is patented and scientfically proven.
I think DeCoster is in for an unhappy surprise when he gets to the "pearly gates" and meets up w/ St. Peter and ALL of his poor chickens. Then, he'll be sent to his cage for the rest of eternity - where he can't turn around or stretch out his limbs. Do Unto Others...
I try to buy local and if I can't or it's not available I buy Certified Humane egg products. They have a very strict certification process and the animals are all treated very humanely.
How about cooking your eggs appropriately and washing your hands? Salmonella has been and will always be in and on eggs. Why not a strong warning to COOK your eggs and don't eat raw eggs as we have been taught from a young age. This is not ecoli or mad cow disease or something that is a serious killer. There is no reason to destroy part of our food supply and increase prices over people who did not cook their food. If there is a higher than normal percentage of salmonella (normal was reported to be 1 in 20,000 eggs) then use these eggs in pasteurized products, don't destroy them.
I don't believe Pollan mentioned in the article has ever raised a chicken in his life. Saying a chicken has no reason to venture out of its coop after being stuck in there for only 5 weeks. I have back yard Chickens and they are so curious they is no way they would not venture out of the coup when the doors are open. Usually one sticks its head out and then the rest run over to do the same thing and several get pushed out. Once out the rest seem to think they have to follow. Now I am not saying the yard for these free range chickens is more than a gravel walk way, but from Pollan's comment, I wouldn't trust a thing he says.
A lot of great posts! If anyone is interested in learning more about this go to Enfuse Fitness on facebook under local business and select like. We will be going to local farms to look at their practices with chicken. It is also a forum for other health topics! Hope to see you there!
A chicken will eat anything and everything including another chicken. The best eggs come from farms that have their chickens running free from the time they are chicks. Leave the door open, and let them run. Scratching bugs, dirt, cleaning themselves in the sand. A happy hen sings, runs to her roost singing loudly, squawking to let the world know she is going to lay an egg. Then the rooster chimes in to let the world know that he had a part in it.
Hen's don't need a rooster to lay eggs, but he doesn't know that :)
A free chicken makes healthier eggs.
Has anyone considered if any of these tainted egg lots were sold to companies making mayonnaise? I imagine most mayo is pasteurized, yet I'd hate to think of all of the school lunch sammies getting slathered with sick.
I saw this and thought it was a picture of Nadia Suleman's kids, ha ha
I have 4 laying hens, who were rescued from a caged environment. They give me more than enough eggs, and I live IN the city.
They are just as friendly as cats, and love a good scratch and pat. Baby talk doesnt hurt, either.
Their favorite things to eat are fruit and corn on the cob.
Look into getting chickens for eggs and family pets.
you all .. STFU
I love eggs. I eat eggs almost everyday. Free range, organic eggs taste so much better. The shells crack different, they smell different, the coloring is different. Why do they cost so much more? It's crazy. I prefer free range, but if I am low on funds, I am stuck with the not as tasty sulfer tasting eggs.
I cant believe how much of a taste difference there is between free range and caged eggs.
i cant eat eggs at restaurants, because they give me a stomach ache.
If it isn't eggs it is something else of food bacteria or food poisonings and or food vieuses found in food. Couple of years ago it was Bacon, then it was Beef, then it was Tomatoes, then it is always something about Fish and or Shellfish. What about the Pesticides and Fetilizers they used to spray on the Farms on Fruits and Vegetables?
A lot of people that cook at home still do not wash their meats and or fresh vegetables they feed to their kids/families at the table and then they wonder why they get sick after they have eaten the meal. People are lazy when it comes to doing the right thing in the Kitchen when they are handling Meats and or Vegetables/Fruits. Some people are just plain nasty and lazy in the Kitchen and taking short cuts.
I'm the owner of http://www.BackYardChickens.com and co-author of "Raising Chickens for Dummies and am SO glad this article was posted! It's so unfortunate that people get mislead by the "cage free" and "free range" labels. Consumers read these and picture rolling hills and chickens happily pecking at fresh grass and scratching for seeds and bugs. Unfortunately this isn't the case. Do some Googling and you'll see how these chickens are raised. Fortunately there is a growing trend toward people realizing the benefits associated with raising a small flock of backyard chickens (the pet that makes you breakfast) in a very happy and humane manner.
I love fresh eggs! I think this is great! I do hope you have a successful & prosperous business.
It really doesn't matter if the chicken is free range or factory farmed in the sense that salmonella or other bacteria can get into the egg. It's more a matter of how clean and healthy do you want your food source to be. Odd that we freak out about having to fully cook our eggs (nothing new by the way) .. but blow off millions of beef recalls a year as if that's 'normal'.. it's not. How is it that as a species we can't even drink from a mountain stream without risk of death? .. how did we survive this long?? We are crippling our immune systems with hormones and medicines in our food supply... guess what.. you NEED to get sick once in awhile to build up your immunity! We aren't going to die from some meteorite or nuclear disaster.. we kill ourselves little by little everyday...go ahead and slather on that hand sanitizer.. the important thing is you are 'clean' ..you have no antibodies but hey....priorities right??
Hello!!
This is my first year of raising backyard chickens – I was wondering how to properly clean/wash the eggs as I'm reading all sorts of different information. Even after my short experience with my chickens, I can't imagine the conditions these animals live with. Mine are roaming around in my backyard during the day and seem completely happy.
All these food outbreaks since the Bush admin de-regulated de-regulated and de-regulated some more.
We have laying hens. Right now they are lazy girls because of the heat, but most of the time, we get 10 to 12 eggs a day.
They taste GREAT, and I hate it when I have to buy tasteless eggs from the store. We feed our hens scratch grains to supplement, but mostly they run around all day and eat bugs from our land or left over veges. The egg yolks are so bright yellow you would think we used yellow food coloring. LOL
Love those girls.!
In one moment... now, perhaps tomorrow... in one small duration of your long life- venture out and meet a local chicken farmer. Shake their hand, learn their story and why they do what they do. Buy their eggs when they lay, purchase their hens when they grow old. As we follow food trends throughout the years, this movement for sustainability in our food systems will not be erased by the pursuing what is popular. Rather, by embracing what true and through the further pursuit of what is of sound and conscience mind, the history of food systems will shed its light. There is nothing new to idea of eating locally. The trend of seasonality has been with us since we could place food in our mouths. The wonderfully cyclical nature of our species fins us again, with a ruined system and the opportunity to make it better. Save a dollar at the grocery next time, spend it as you would a vote.... a vote for the system which you agree with and which you believe will supoort our generations.
Well, if you live in the land of temperate climate, you can afford to talk about free range this and that, grown locally, in season...
The rest of the country, not so lucky. Lived in CA most of my life, now living in the midwest. The options there are skimpy to non-existant for half of the year, and that is coming from either out of the country or FL/CA. When you're looking at brown dirt squares in February and you want fresh fruits and veggies, there ya go. And trust me, everything that is 'free range' is literally flown in, so there goes the ballooning costs as well. Let alone the fact that the shelf life of some of these things can be a matter of hours before they turn into something inedible.
So stop slapping the Walmart contingent. For some people, that is literally the only option that they have. And for those of us who would pay more, if it doesn't exist on the shelf, it doesn't exist.
Today my family enjoyed some lovely corn on the cob...From Colorado, not our state. Why? The local stuff is 'fresh' but with our high humidity, smelled a bit like mold. It was a no-brainer. You'd think that you could find an ear of corn on the plains, and the answer to that is 'sometimes'.
There are a lot of reasons why people make the food choices that they do. After my first year here, all of my friends and family back home got an earful about being snotty about this subject. Easy to be superior when you live in the food basket of America.
I have my own backyard flock of hens. They roam around all day, eating bugs and worms, as well as food and fresh water we provide. They also have a house to keep them safe from predators. They are by far the easiest "pets" we've ever had. They also have great personalities. We grow most of our own fruits and vegetables as well as eggs right in our yard. I can or freeze the excess so we have it when those fruits and vegetables are not in season. If that's not possible or appealing to you, try your farmer's market or a CSA. There are many choices when purchasing your food.
By the way, do not wash your eggs. Willie's comment above is spot on.
Wow. We try and get our eggs from local growers at the weekly farmer's market. "Happy, bug-eatin' chickens!"
Why not just criminalize the act of placing into the market or selling contaminated eggs ?
.
HORRIBLE ADVICE !!! Do not wash your eggs, the shells are porous and unless the temperature of the wash is higher than the inside of the egg, the bacteria will be forced to the INSIDE of the egg. More people are made sick by washing eggs than not. I used to be a small scale chicken farmer. My free range birds spent most of every day outside . The main thing is by allowing them to roam they get much needed exercise and they can get lots of bugs and young sprouts in their diet, which makes them healthy and strong enabling them to resist disease. Buy quality eggs raised locally without hormones and allowed to roam. They cost more but are far safer and taste much better.
Welcome to everyday America if the Republican-Tea Party ever takes power again...because according to the Republican-Tea Party, federal government oversight (which is already limited) will be abolished because according to the Republican-Tea Party, their corporate Big Brother sponsors know best.
Living in farm country we offer our customers options. The meat, eggs, etc can be regular (they get treatments to insure health etc), organic (these animals get organic feed and no drugs/hormones). Meat/Eggs from both can be sent through an irradiation machine. Most of our meat (beef) rare liking people opt for the irradiation before packaging especially with the ground beef (even the organic customers). It's no different than putting your toothbrush under an ultraviolet light. The organic animals are kept on acreage that has not been chemically treated for over three years. They are all truly "free range" animals but we charge in accordance for that which includes their special feed and needs.
Prose, the USDA in charge of the agriculture industry; and the USDA, along with the FDA, is in charge of food safety in the U.S. If everyone made sure the eggs they ate were cooked properly, there would be no need to recall ANY eggs. Eggs should be handled and cooked with the same care as any meat, regardless of whether they came from free range, cage free, or any other hen.
Don't believe everything you hear from PETA and HSUS. Their videos come from very rare cases and do not paint a good picture of the industry as a whole. It is not in the interest of large scale animal production facilities to mistreat their animals, that would only lead to unhealthy animals and low quality products, which means less profit for the company. Having large numbers of animals increases efficiency and therefore profits, just like anything else.
It has also been discovered in court cases that animal rights activists (PETA and HSUS) have even set up some of the situations on farms or in slaughter plants just so that they could video tape it.
One more reason to EAT LOCAL!
It's absurd to tell the consumer to take precautions for an industry's and it's regulatory body's mistakes. Corporations are to blame, but so is the FDA, and it's inability, rather unwillingness to regulate agriculture. Recalls and outbreaks of salmonella and E. coli are more common now, not because of consumers not washing and cooking food, but because of the industrialized nature of agriculture and the governmental regulatory bodies that allow those products into the market. Washing and cooking should not be the only suggestion given to prevent disease. We need to look at the underlying causes that are creating this mess.
The USDA is "in bed" with the U.S. agriculture industry-the USDA does not care one iota about the health and safety of the American consumer: they want, at all costs, to protect big industry. I have little use for PETA and their vegan agenda, but some of their videos of what the conditions are on these huge animal-processing megafarms are worth a look. Especially the large-scale egg production facilities. Personally, I wouldn't eat eggs from bald, cramped, tortured hans. I am lucky enough to have 6 acres and half a dozen hens that are fully feathered, eat bugs and kitchen scraps, and grace me with beautiful, orangep-yolked eggs. Time for somebody to investigate the USDA's agenda and relationship with the U.S. livestock and egg industries. How about it, CNN...?
Wow... the amount of typos in this article is astounding – good job proof-reading your news. "It is better to be thought of as an idiot, than to write it down and have it confirmed"
All my life, since my first foods ever eaten until now, I have eaten chicken eggs (and an occasional guinea egg or duck egg) from plain old 'yard birds'. Mine, my families, friends' or neighbors'. Even now and then bought from the Amish. All I can say is that I have never gotten sick from an egg that was plucked from a hen's nest, be it under a bush or from a coop or the back of a horse stall or hay pile. And I have never known anyone to get sick from them, even ones that weren't picked up within 24 hrs of the lay. The one time I did get salmonella from an egg, it was from a breakfast I ate at a chain restaurant. Makes ya' think.
Hey HiTec, maybe you can tell that to TRIXEN who apparently thinks that only PETA supporters prefer fresh eggs from the real farmers and not some factory "farm". Though I bet Trixen would look good with Salmonella from the Walmart eggs s/he likes. Probably weighs 300 pounds too.
I just buy the cheap ones so I can tell PETA members and political vegans about it later for entertainment.
check craigslist for local hobbie farmers selling their excess eggs from home. Then you can see the chickens and their conditions, and probably get better tasting eggs than you've ever had before!
good idea!
nah... too much trouble for an omelette. I'll settle for the ones at Kroger that are $1.99. I don't really care about chickens anyhow. They're food.
Why does CNN not talk about the widely-available vaccine for chickens against salmonella?! This vaccine was developed in IOWA in 1997 ( http://www.newswise.com/articles/vaccine-could-be-solve-salmonella-tainted-eggs ), has been commercially available since 1998, and is standard practice in much of the developed world, including Europe. Why are we so backward as to not use this simple measure to improve food safety? CNN, ***PLEASE*** comment on this in one of your many articles on the topic. The public deserves to hear about this!
I used to eat chicken periods as well, but then I learned the truth:
http://www.eggindustry.com
Why did the chicken cross the road?
raise your own chickens, feed them what you feel is save, and collect their eggs - and then COOK the eggs thoroughly.... don't forget to wash your hands!!
some people should justkeep their mouth shut if they dont understand what is happenin.some this crap people say just make them stupid when they tryin to sound smart...
to those who say they can't afford to eat organic, ever thought that $5 may well be the FAIR price when the farmer does things right? it costs less to buy inorganic, b/c the 'producers' of that junk have cut every possible corner, ultimately to the detriment of the consumer (price aside). read labels; your body wasn't designed to process the preservatives, emulsifiers, and colorants that have perverted what passes as food nowadays... for my family, i'll trim a few inches off the big screen tv and use that $ to buy REAL food. can't afford not to.
I live in a large Mid West city. Our city has started allowing the practice of having chickens on private property. Since WW llthey have also used vacant city lots for gardening by citizens. Most of the gardens are organic so that pesticides and fertilizer do not run off into the water treatment plant. There are things that can be done by individuals to bring these practices into use. Our city counsel did not start this just because they are wonderful people. They did it because of pressure by citizens. Those who think that going to Wal-mart is just peachy and don't care what is in their food should watch a PBS program called "Where does our food come from. One chicken farmer showed how she had to take a bobcat with a scoop bucket on the front and place it at the door of her factory farm and fill the bucket with dead chickens daily. Really good practice for our health. She WAS a producer for Perdue
Chickens. After that I couldn't even dread of eating anything from Perdue. She also made the comment that she had fed so much antibiotics to the chickens over the years she is now allergic to all known antibiotics herself.Those antibiotics have been passed down to the rest of us in the flesh of the chickens and the reason there are so many super bugs out there such as Mersa. The bugs are getting immune to antibiotics. So MOcasA if feeding your family a dinner plate of antibiotics is loving them, knock yourself out. As for my family I really do love them and try my very best to only feed quality food. As far as the eggs go, the ones raised out in the open pecked on grit, bugs and food not filled with antibiotics have a wonderful taste so unlike tasteless eggs raised in factory farms. There is so little taste in those eggs they are not worth buying at any price. Kevin you hit the nail on the head about the large corporations. They could care less if they kill off a few of us now and then. What is life compared to the bottom line and how much money they can make.
Yet another example of how large corporations care nothing about anything but maximizing shareholder profit. Employees at these corporate farms are paid next to nothing, living creatures are merely "machines" to manufacture product with no regard to quality of life, and said product is slickly packaged and marketed to appeal to clueless consumers. Wake up America, corporations are killing us!
All eggs, no matter their source, free range, organic, or factory farmed, can be infected with salmonella.
That being said, I will still eat soft boiled and over easy eggs, from free-range sources. Why? Because the risk is far less there. It exists, but so does the risk of being creamed by a car on the highway, and I still drive. I eat sushi, too, from reputable restaurants.
Cue is: calculate out your risks to "likely" (AVOID THESE) down to "miniscule likelihood". Then decide your own personal best ratio.
It just so happens that all of the eggs involved in this latest recall were from caged hens, according to the Egg Safety Center. More details that you may not be getting somewhere else...at http://FlourSackMama.blogspot.com.
It makes no difference where the eggs come from or how much salmonella is in them. If you cook them properly and completely done you will be safe.
It DOES make a difference ....
to the CHICKENS
and the FARMERS
and to your body - chickens that run around outside eating grass, plants, bugs and living the good life lay eggs that are more nutritious
http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm
Ii guess that's what you have to tell yourself to eat a "factory farm" egg : )
http://www.certifiedhumane.org/
I'm just glad that I buy from some people that have chickens locally. The way they treat the chickens commercially is inhumane. But that seems to be the norm in animals kept for food or products..
http://www.localharvest.org/
Eat locally. Shop at your local Farmers Market or join a CSA. Check out localharvest.org to find ones close to you. Understand that most small farmers cannot afford to obtain organic certification - even though they may be doing a much better job than the large "certified" organic farms. I know that organic feed is impossible to find in my area, but my chickens and turkeys spend their days roaming 8.5 acres eating grass and bugs and living a wonderful life supplemented by the whole grains and some non-organic feed. Consumers must educate themselves - Whole Foods seems like a great idea until you realize they sell organic food from CHINA, which - BIG SURPRISE - turns out to be fake
http://www.pri.org/science/environment/fake-organic-foods-proliferate-from-china2055.html
Lobby your politicians to push the USDA to support SMALL farms - instead of servicing Big Ag. Whether peanut butter or eggs, we run into problems when one supplier provides huge amounts of product distributed across our entire country.
You might even want to keep some laying hens of your own - hens don't need a rooster to lay eggs, and there is a whole urban chicken movement – visit urbanchickens.org
Somehow I suspect the Urban Chicken movement will really take off after this debacle.
I bought cage-free eggs long before this outbreak, because the thought of hens that can walk about and be free of a cage during what brief lifespan they have makes me happy. Happiness is worth the extra few dollars!
I'm allergic to eggs, so this story doesn't really interest me.
I like my eggs sunny side up.
I started buying my chicken from ethical ranchers and I noticed how it tastes different. It's more fleshy and less fatty. Probably because the chickens go out and develop their muscles that they wouldn't by sitting in a cage all their life and getting fat.
Broilers (chickens raised for its meat) are not raised in cages anyways. Some are allowed to roam outside, and others stay in broiler houses.
Get away from human emotion, and look at science. The mortality rate for hens in cage-free systems (which includes free-range systems) is TWICE the rate of caged hens. Cage-free hens break their bones more frequently than caged birds. Cage-free birds are susceptible to predators, unlike caged birds. Cage-free birds are susceptible to temperature change, which causes illness, unlike the caged birds that are in a temperature controlled environment.
If you want scientific facts, not human emotion, I have done the research on this. People see cages and think, "oh, that looks so mean." But leaving them out of the cages is a death sentence. How is that not animal cruelty?
So, do you never leave your house? The mortality rate of people driving cars or even walking outside is higher than those who always sit at home. You can also catch all those germs from other people and get sick. Looks to me like leaving your house should be considered human cruelty. I think that I'm going to order 5 tons of grain, stuff it in my living room and then nail my door shut. That should keep me alive for the next 50 years. I will just sit in my bedroom all day staring out the window. My life will be so fun! Thanks for the scientific facts, I haven't realize how stupid I was leaving the house.
Do you put coats and shoes on your birds when they are allowed to leave the house? When I leave the house, I am prepared for the elements and do not have to worry about predators. Birds are not prepared for the elements, and are very susceptible to predators.
I asked my Royal Palm heritage tom turkey, who is sitting next to me on the couch recovering from a leg injury - sustained in the wild and dangerous OUTDOORS - whether he would prefers staying safely inside...
Turkle says he prefers the risks and adventures of running & flying around OUTSIDE; however, YOU are welcome to live your own life like the poor Bubble Boy. Oh, and I think he's giving you the LONG MIDDLE TURKEY TOE ; )
It is so awesome that your turkey can talk. I might have to meet Turkle.
Make sure you keep him inside when it rains. Turkeys like it to stare straight up in the air with their mouths wide opens while it is raining. They will drown while doing it.
Does he ask for a coat when it is cold outside?
By the way, turkeys are not raised in cages so it is a moot point in this argument.
Corrections: Hens are not "de-beaked" .... they are beak-trimmed, removing a tiny, sharp hook at the tip of their beak so that they won't peck the other hens to death;
Tthe California law does not ban cages, just requires more space for hens, similar to Europe.
Nearly all the hens in the US do get the space requirements you refer to.
Modern cages have helped reduce disease outbreaks; in fact the last major outbreak was a cage free organic farm. So don't blame modern, sanitary cages. could be a lot of other causes for the recall.
Organic? Where is all the non-carbon-based food anyway?
It is so sad that we need laws to tell us that chickens should be able to "stand up, lie down, turn around, and fully extend their limbs."
Part of the problem lies in the fact that people don't support local small farmers, they instead will just buy from whoever has eggs for the "cheapest". You get what you pay for has never been so true. I have a small flock of about 300 hens. I charge $2.00 a dozen for dark brown large eggs. They can be had at Walmart for about 20 cents cheaper, and many "neighbors" state that as the reason they do not care to buy their eggs locally. The consuming public does not take into consideration what it costs to raise chickens in a healthy happy enviroment. I have the cost of feed, equipment, waterers and feeders, housing for the chickens so the raccoons dont kill them at night, then there is waste disposal, which basically means labor on my part. Last year instead of taking vacation, I treated myself to building 2 more chicken houses instead. Happy chcickens raised under humane conditions, a far more superior product, gathered daily and kept under optimal conditions and recieved by the customer within 2 days of being laid. Some people would STILL rather support Walmart and factory farms, and CHEEP prices.... and miserable chickens, not to mention the little guy can not compete. I can not even count my labor, if I did, I would have to charge far more for that dozen eggs. It's just about like people who ill drive 20 miles out of their way to save 2 cents a gallon on gas. Meanwhile spending all that they "saved" getting there. Support your LOCAL farmers. They are the source of the most wholesome food money can buy. Pay the extra 20 cents.
I wish people did what you suggest, but they won't. Most people they don't engage in deep thought. "I need some eggs, I'm at Walmart, there we go" is as far as they get. I don't think it's as much about the 20 cents, it's the convenience and ignorance about how those eggs are created. The only thing that can be done to change this is introduce legislation that would force mass producers to treat their chickens better – then they would not be able to compete with local farmers due to shipping costs and bureaucracy, and Walmart would shop locally to keep prices low.
But of course this won't happen because the mass producers will just "donate" some money to the congressman's campaign or outright bribe, excuse me, I meant lobby them to prevent such legislation.
I think part of the problem lies in information and education. I live in a suburb of Milwaukee... my wife and I know that there's a farmer's market I think once a week or every other week in town, but we don't really know when it is. There's probably a website (in fact, I just looked it up), but when I drive by the place and think, "Oh yeah, there's a farmer's market, I wonder when it is..." I forget about it about 30 seconds later. Is it that hard to post a schedule? If I didn't drive past it for work sometimes, I wouldn't even know it was there.
FInd local farmers and markets http://www.localharvest.org/
My husband likes to say: "who is the first person who saw an egg come out of a chicken's *ss and said, 'hey, let's eat that."
It was Ogg; he thought, if this turns into a chicken, it must contain everything needed to support a life, it must have wonderful things in it. I think I'll have mine sunny side up. He also thought; I wonder why life on earth has so many problems, and unhappiness connected to it?
The egg does have everthing to sustain life. That's because it's an embryo.
I sell a small quantity of eggs at a local farmer's market every week. Often people ask me if I have "happy chickens". That's a quote people. Since we open the door every morning and they lay their eggs wherever they please and we have to search for them, I guess that qualifies them as happy. One of the consumers I chat with at the market sells organic eggs from her home and only sells large sized eggs. She says it upsets people if the eggs are too big because they don't want to chickens to be hurt laying them.
On the flip side, the company that is responsible for this salmonella has been in trouble off an on for years in our state, not just because of the way they treat their chickens, but also because of the way they treat their employees. The owner is a sick, nasty man. Just despicable.
One last comment: Yesterday I went home and guess who had produced the eggs I have in my fridge... That's right! Wright County Egg! I have 6 dozen eggs (I do a lot of cooking and baking) so I'm pretty sure that at least some of them are "contaminated." Guess what I had for breakfast? Pancakes (made with eggs), bacon and... yup, eggs. I had an egg salad sandwich for lunch. I used egg in my stir fry rice last night. And I'm feeling perfectly healthy and full because I was clean, cooked my food thoroughly and din't allow for cross contamination with lesser cooked or uncooked foods.
The problem of course, is our constantly corrupt Rep and Dem congresses, that let industries of all kinds sell us overpriced, corrupted, unhealthy, goods at inflated prices. The only temporary answer is to get a third party into control, and vote them out when they become corrupt. The billionaires control it all, and politicians are just glorified "clerks to the billionaires".
What about "Naturally Nested?" I doubt there's a formal USDA definition of it, but I wonder if the husbandry conditions are different than "free range."
"Naturally nested" doesn't have a definition. You just have to go and personally view the farm. Otherwise this can mean anything. If they are on the up and up, they should let you view, although you may have to arrange times. Farmers can be busy. But anyhow, I'd go view if I were you. They may well be on the up and up, but the term "naturally nested" has no legal status at all., at this time.
Protein is protein. You can't make a soy bean suffer.... or can you? Jury's out on that one. Tofu is 60% protein, and the best surce of protein ounce per ounce. Meat is typicaly 16% protein. Eggs? I dont' know. But cramping chickens in a battery cage is torture to the poor bird. It's kinda like getting stuffed into a 3 by 5 foot bamboo cage, like the North Vietnamese used to do to our soldiers in the sixties. Interesting comparison? I say go vegan, with some cheese and tofu. You'll be thinner, be heathier, and live a lot longer!
I eat cage free organic eggs, and farm fresh when possible. There are ways to eat ethically without resorting to being a vegan.
I agree, though I am a vegetarian (not a vegan.) I'm pissed off "free range" might not really mean FREE RANGE, how can they charge more than double for a bogus product? The eggs we have in our fridge say "Cage-free" I hope that's not BS.
And while I'm an omnivore, I'm in spectacular health and very thin. I know a lot of fat, unhealthy vegetarians and vegans.
Vegans don't eat cheese
@Mark: So did you come up with those numbers off the top of your head or did you hear them from a friend of a friend of a friend. You got you numbers backwards BTW...
Tofu is relatively high in protein, about 10.7% for firm tofu and 5.3% for soft "silken" tofu while lean meat is between 57% and 68% protien. Cited from "Ang, Liu & Huang" published 1999.
Next time you coe and cite numbers off the top of your head, do a little research and get your facts straight.
Also... the average chicken egg has 6 grams of protien. You see there is this wonderful invention called the internet where you can look up all sorts of interesting facts. Just be careful who you cite and make sure it is a credable source.
Funny, but you have it backwards. Soy is terrible for you but eggs are fine. The idea of animal fats causing health problems was debunked at least a decade ago. The vegetarian alternatives are the harmful ones (soy, transfats from vegetable oils, etc.)
Just google "is soy healthy" for thousands of articles about it.
Some people are allergic to soy and to nuts. They don't need just your options.
I do say go as home farmed and TRUE free-ranged as possible, for meat sources.
Oh, btw, if you go vegan, technically the cheese is out... Just reminding you.
What a one sided story! The author quoted in this article is well-know for his anti-agriculture view point. The study that was sighted was by HSUS, a group that has stated it's goal is to completely eliminate animal agriclture. I would encourage everyone to do their own research before making any decision based on this information.
Thank you, Joni! I work in the poultry industry and people don't release the filth that HSUS tries to spread.....if it was their choice, you couldn't even own dogs or cats.
*realize, not release...my apologies...
People are sissies these days, we are so afraid of germs. Do people not realise that without us consuming these germs we would NEVER grow immunity to things. I say eat eggs and if you are a little uncomfortable for a couple days suck it up, what is 2 days over a regular 70-80 year life span. live it up!!
@Roy you are a tool there is no God or the world wouldn't be in the state its in!
A free range chicken is a happy chicken and they're eggs are AWESOME. Trust me, there is a taste difference from what you buy at the market.
Ok....I'm sick of all this egg hysteria. I have eaten soft-boiled, eggs with runny yolks, Hollandaise sauce, kept eggs in the door of the refrigerator, and kept eggs for over a month before using them for 40 years. I've never gotten sick from eating them. If I crack open an egg and it looks or smells funny I throw it away. As for all this "cage-free", "free-range", "all-natural" and "organic" egg marketing hype – It's mostly just that. The only eggs that I have found that truly taste better are from chickens that roam freely outside, eat a mix of both grain and insects. These type of eggs seem to have very dark yellow-orange yolks. Trader Joes sells them and the container says the yolks are extra dark right on it.
Free Range hippies lay the best chicks.
Myself and several of my cohorts got EXTREMELY ill from eating some Eggland's Best eggs. I recall the eggs definitely had an 'off' taste that made them hard to palate. Because I ate only a few bites I am assuming the eggs were LOADED with Salmonella–OH MY GOD! It was effin' HORRIFIC! Coming out of both ends, headache, fever.. Ya - No joke. Sickness lasted for about 20 hrs. No one died. Yes, the eggs were a bit undercooked.
Seriously, they smelled off AND were undercooked and you are wondering why you got sick? Please. Human evolution has allowed us to keep some of our basic survival mechanisms and one of those is "don't eat stuff taht smells or tastes bad". I do feel really bad about your illness tho. Most of the bacteria that come from animal foods cause truly awful symptoms. It may not kill but you sometimes wish it would.
Definitely not good to eat food that has obviously spoiled, but you can't rely on taste or smell alone.
Think of all the people who don't wash their hands after using the toilet, rummaging through the vegetables at the market, contaminating everything.
By U.S. law you cannot use hormones for fowl or swine, so when this is on a label it really means nothing. Just and FYI.
and this is why we eat farm fresh eggs and always have
Not all the bad eggs have been recalled yet. Did anyone see this yet: http://www.facebook.com/people/Egg-Finger/100000898890889
And since it came from a website that anyone can edit or add to it must be the truth. If that is so then I have a proposition for you. You see this guy from Nigeria with over $300,000,000 in assests died without a designated beneficiary...
what a sad commentary on the human race creating pain, suffering and cruelty to animals that give us life.
So many are so concerned about the chicken's living conditions and have no problem killing a human baby during birth. May GOD carry out his justice.
why does compassion have to be limited, either or? is your god so limited?
Pathetic!
Why do so many anti-abortion nuts come onto discussion boards for unrelated topics and spew out their unthinking blanket statements? Why is it that anti-abortion nuts only care about human life when it's in the womb? @$$.
My husband and I do not eat eggs and I haven't had one in 8 years. We choose not to eat them because of the conditions the chickens are forced to live in. I bake plenty of things without eggs- potato starch is an equal substitute and has a much longer shelf life. We get plenty of protein without cholesterol with tofu, beans, tempeh, cereals and other items. It is just a personal choice we made to not be involved, as much as we can, in the harm of other creatures. I know we sound hippy dippy but we are far from it. We aren't preachy, just trying to be conscious consumers.
Simple solution, get your own chickens. It;s fun, it's easy, and the eggs taste better than any you have purchased from the store.
@Jeff S – Go talk to your local farmer and you will learn a great deal that your "publications", most likely written by someone who knows nothing about farming or genetics, are far from the truth. Most genetic engineering to seeds is done to keept away pests or types of fungus. This then cuts down on insecticide and fungicide use making crops less costly to grow and, in most peoples eyes, safer to eat. "Real" seeds no longer exist. Plants cross polinate in nature as you described. Almost every apple in a store today is a cross of different apples, many which occured in the back corner of a farmers orchard.
@Lydia – Plant patents are for the blatent grower who purposely raises a crop for it's seed and then resells it as that product. They only last 7 years then anyone can then copy that seed. Yes, you will get sued for lots of money if you purposely grow a crop, harvest the seed, and resell it for a profit. The work and labor that goes into generating a seed crop is so immense on a large scale that it is not worth it for any farmer to invest in the time and equipment needed. It would take years on top of years to get back your investment.
Horray for all the people who visit their local farms/farmers and buy any food from them. Ask them questions, most want to educate their customers and provide them with a good product that they trust. I know that is my goal at my farm.
Eggs right from the chicken into the skillet as well as much of our own food.
We have a 1/2 acre in the city and are set. Funny thing is, most people can do the same..or...will HAVE to coming up very soon....even on a little plot. Better get crackin...times are looking tough!
I feel like eggs are misunderstood. Eggs are actually pretty great for your health. All things in moderation.
I agree with Jeff that a beautiful runny sunny yellow yolk is just about the best thing in the world.
That is if I know where the egg has come from. I am lucky enough and very very thankful to have access to eggs from small organic and pastured/sustainable farms, so I do actually know where the eggs come from.
This is propaganda by Wright County’s company simply to reason that Organic free-range and cage-free are danger as well as their products to preserve their own profits. I hope people can see the whole picture why this article existed. This article will not be existed if Wright County hasn't recall over 380 millions eggs due to outbreak. This article is biased and aim on companies who trying to offer better quality eggs to customers. In other word, Wright County trying to do the "Damage Control" with their unfortunately incident. Naturally, people tend see this situation and decide to buy organic cage-free or free-range eggs instead of buying Wright County’s eggs. That's why Wright County feel duty to include this article to give a fear on Organic products. Attacking Organic cage-free and free-range companies showing how desperate they are. For Wright County, suck it up and move on.
@Kevin – Can you read? They actually said Organic is the best way to go as it's requiments to be qualified "Organic" are far more stringent and regularly inspected. Free Range and Cage Free are only a moderate step up, and are not inspected for quality control. To qualify for "Free Range" the farmer only has to put in a door that allows the chickens to exit the building if they choose. For cage-free they have to be able to move around and stretch their wings (no door required). Organinc is basically Free Range and Cage-free as well as no artificial enhancements or drugs to speed their production along.
America wake up. Pay now for humane, ethical farming- or pay later (Much More) for your terminal illness in health care.
Interesting article. I think organic eggs are definitely the way to go. The chickens are given no growth-hormones, no antibiotics, and they're raised in a cage-free, pesticide free environment. We need to be smart consumers!
Hi Kevin,
I'm the author and I've never had any dealings with Wright County. Not even a little scrap of propaganda, I assure you.
Kat Kinsman – Managing Editor, Eatocracy
@Sebastian – Eggs have been a staple of human diet since before recorded history. As for causing birds emmense suffering, they're going to lay them anyways, and I don't know about you, but I eat animals. Yes that includes egg laying birds. I could give a flying "care" if the bird suffered before I ate it, what matters to me is if the bird fills my stomach and provides me with the protien and basic nutrients my body needs to survive. Better yet, I'll make an egg based sauce to spread of the the chicken so I can have it all at once.... The egg and the chicken who laid it = dinner.
This recall is a pointless expense because of the idiocy of the common human. Step 1 in food preparation is "Wash all food objects." Step 2 is "Wash your Hands." It is also important to thoroughly cook your food. This doesn't mean you can't have your runny yolks, it just means that the yolk has been heated to 160F (Egg yolks don't start solidifying until roughly 195F).
As for the different "types" of eggs... As long as it tastes good I don't care if the chicken was hung from it's feet all day long.
At least you are honest in regards to your complete lack of respect for nature.
I respect nature, I just don't put it on a pedestal above my well-being.
I'm not about to be holier than thou, but hey, people have respected nature for generations and still ate meat and eggs.
You probably pulled the wings off butterflies when you were a kid, too. If you have no empathy for animals, it's a very small step to having no empathy for other humans, which is where serial killers and pyschopaths are formed.
Actually no I didn't. I helped raise animals (Cows, Turkeys, Chickens, Rabbits and Sheep) through my younth and never once mistreated them. The chickens were true Free-Roaming (They had a coop where they were raised but no fences to hinder their wandering) and their eggs were some of the best I've ever eaten. They were fed grain and table scraps. I'm just saying I'm not going to get all up in arms because of something I really don't have a say in.
And growing up in Alaska teaches you to respect and revere nature, otherwise it WILL kill you.
I have empthy for animals, just no sympathy. I don't like to see an animal suffering unnecessarily. But, frankly, they are animals bred specifically for human consumption. Show me a wild chicken that wasn't introduced in some way that has existed in the last 2000+ years. I eat animals, I enjoy eating animals, and I refuse to put their well-being and "comfort" above my own. I'm not going to coddle a cow because I drink its milk, I'm not going to cry with a chicken because I eat its eggs, and I'm not going to let anyone else tell me that I'm better off picking daisies then killing an animal to feed myself and my family.
Oh and as for not having "empathy" for my fellow humans... I don't have empathy for my fellow human unless they've earned it. Every day I see the depredations and careless disreguard of my fellow humans and wonder "WTF?" I've pretty much given up in caring for anyone except my family because it is pointless. I stopped and helped a guy who had been clipped by a car (hit-and-run) gave him the License number, model and make of the car that clipped him, called the Ambulance, and made him as comfotable as possible until the ambulance came, but because I wouldn't give him water (very dangerous if there are internal injuries) I got sued for emptional duress and cruelty by the self same person. When our society starts caring agin, then so will I.
"I'm just saying I'm not going to get all up in arms because of something I really don't have a say in."
But you DO have a say in it. A very small say, but still – it's like voting. If you buy humanely raised animals, the good guys will make a little more money, and the bad guys will make a little less. Over time, and hopefully with other people's help, the bad guys will go out of business and the good guys will replace them. So yes, if you do have empathy, you should care if the chicken was hung from its feet all day long and not buy that chicken. It DOES make a difference.
Lara, You're very intelligent and I like what you have to say. Please run for public office. Your have my vote.
Hey Laura you might not have to pull the wings off butterflies, but you sure do have to pull the feathers off of chickens before you cook and eat them.
Sorry, Lara, I agree totally with MOCaseA. Believe as you want. And again, believe as you want, but I went through extraordinary means to rescue a dragonfly entrapped in my house a few weeks ago. But no, I think I sense blinkers there...
I can't stand selfish people like you. You are the reason there is so much animal suffering. You only care about yourself and you don't even consider what the meat, dairy and egg industries are doing to the environment or the animals. The 80 to 100 years that you live on the planet, if you're lucky, will just ruin it for the ones that follow you.
I'm not selfish. I'm a realist. Reality: Chickens are food. They are raised as food, their ofspring are food, their entire lifespan revolves around providing or being food for humans. If you have a pet chicken, then it is a pet. These "evil" people you are talking about do one thing and one thing only, they provide sustanance for an inherantly lazy society. And since they are the ones providing the majority of the food, they pretty much get to do what they want with the food as long as it is sanitary and doesn't bring harm to the humans who consume the food.
As for the environment, the animal production indistry has a miniscule impact on it (actually providing very good things for it like natural fertilizers and compost) compared to the common everyday human. As for the animals... again they are food. Animal suffering has become almost a joke. If you don't kill an animal in such and such way, it is suffering. If you don't provide it with sunshine and flowers and massages 3 times a day it is suffering. If it isn't warm and cozy 100% of the time it is suffering. If you swat a fly, the fly suffers. Can it. As long as the poeple aren't intentionally being cruel to the animals for the sheer enjoyment of it then I could care less if each chicken had a 1 sq ft cage or a 1000 sq ft cage.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi
@ Sebastian, eggs in moderation are very nutritious. Try baking a cake without eggs....
A more realistic solution is to go local. My parents have about 60 chickens on their property and they live a great life. They have nearly an acre fenced off in and out of the woods and 2 large shedds for they to roost at night. there are a lot of 'redneck' folks out there who do this in their backyards and many suburbanite people who have a few chikens for themselves. The chickens are treated well and they are happy till the day they die. It's so much better to know for sure that the eggs you are eating came from chickens who willingly lay them and are allowed to chase bugs, attempt to fly and scratch in the dirt to dust their feathers.
I wish we could have chickens, but my county prohibits having chickens in a residential area. Someday, when I retire, it is back to the country for me where I am allowed to have chickens and save electricity by hanging my laundry to dry outside on nice days (another thing I'm not allowed to do in my backyard now). Sigh ...
I bake without eggs all the time, just sayin'. There are entire cookbooks devoted to egg- and dairy-free baking, and don't knock it 'til you try it. I bake for non-vegans regularly and get rave reviews.
Still, re egg and dairy-free cooking: once you find that they stop having recalls on spinach and sprouts, maybe, just MAYBE I'll listen to you. PS: there is absolutely no non-utterly-overprocessed substitute for dairy worth considering. Even for a second. Give me meat over over-processed any second of the day. ANY time.
We have started raising our own Chickens. we have 3 now, which will produce enough eggs for the family once they start laying. They have a cage, but it is open and large (10'x10') and have free range of the back yard, which they happily take advantage of. They are cheap to buy, each cost less than $3, plus other supplies, we spent less than $100. Granted that's about a years worth of eggs, so from an overall savings it will take time, but the kids enjoy them as they are entertaining as well.
To me, raising your own laying hens is more than a monetary investment... You're investing in your health and in a better idea of where your food is coming from, something I don't think you can put a price tag on. Also, having grown up around chickens, there is definitely the entertainment value! lol
When should I be there to get my eggs?
Very true, it was not the monetary value that got us into it, I was just mentioning that is inexpensive to get started with your own hens for anyone interested. Our's started as a Science expieriment for my 11 Y.O. who wanted to incubate eggs. Unfortunately none hatched, but it got us going on the idea of rasing chickens.
never thought Chickens would have so much personality though. As much as I try to tell the kids they are not really pets, it's hard not to think of them that way as you watch them grow and see their individual personalaties come out.
THANK YOU, GOV SCHWARZENEGGER, I APPLAUD YOU IMMENSELY.
Me too! One of the few things he's gotten right.
Eggs are among the most important item to eat organic, because "regular eggs" are so densely laden with horomones, toxins, etc., and organic eggs, while more expensive than "regular", are extremely cheap. We buy a carton of 18 organic eggs for under $4. That's about $0.22 per egg. I wish people would do more research on the dangers of eating, and growing chemically and genetically altered foods. We're killing ourselves, and our future ability to produce food so that we can enrich Monsanto.
Recent studies have shown that Monsanto-based GMO crops have been cross-pollinating with "real" crops, "infecting" them with their modified genes. Considering Monsanto makes "terminator seeds", which grow sterile plants, in time this will cause all crops to be dependent upon Monsanto continuing to produce and provide seeds. Without their fresh supply of GMO seeds each year, our land will eventually become barren, simply because we sacrificed good science on the altar of corporate profits.
You're right.... It's scary how these GMO crops are cross-pollinating, and to make matters worse, if a farmer tries to save his own seeds and it's determined that his crop is cross-pollinated with a "patented" crop (how can anyone patent life, I wonder?), that farmer can be sued for tremendous amounts of money. It's criminal, if you ask me.
Interestingly the Supreme Court has ruled that life produced in a laboratory can be patented. The first patent was an oil eating organism.
You are absolutely right, Jeff. Monsanto disgusts me. Their GMOs have contaminated farmer's who never purchased their seeds, yet, these farmers are being sued for breaking Monsanto's patents. Courts have favored, of course, Monsanto; telling farmers that they are responsible for the wind blowing Monsanto's seeds into their fields. WHAT???
Monsanto's GMOS have also contaminated Mexico's precious corn and all of its diversity.
Monsanto is the devil.
You might want to check out the facts, there are no hormones approved for use in poultry for egg laying or broiler production 21 CFR 558 lists all the FDA approved drugs available for use in animal feed and there are no other oral dosage (i.e. water treatment) forms that can be administered to laying hens producing eggs for human consumption. The fact of the matter is putting hormones in poultry feed or water doesn't provide any benefit. Injectable products don't work either and are not practical for these large operations. Do you think these large operations are going to do practices that don't help their bottom line? Also, there aren't any antibiotics approved for increased egg production in feed, and anything that is approved for disease treatment or prevention would have appropriate withdrawal times assigned to it. Unfortunately the salmonella strain involved in this outbreak can be transmitted vertically (i.e. from mother to offspring) so small barnyard flocks can be carriers of the microorganism just as the large confinement faciities.
AMEN!
It isn't that easy. The math isn't that complicated... there are more people on this planet than we can feed WITHOUT use of GMO products. The US is a powerhouse food producer. Europe barely scrapes by, even with their heavy, heavy government controls (which includes protective stances against GMO crops, as their farmers can't compete with the large corporate farms in the U.S.). So, who will you choose to starve?
"cook eggs – yolks and all – to a temperature of 160F". Not a chance. That gooey yolk is the best part. Don't buy from government-subsidized mega farms and you'll be just fine.
Egg-sactly! (sorry, couldn't resist). Buy local and you won't have anything to fear!
The gooey yolk is disgusting. If you must have it, though, don't buy farm-factory eggs and take as many precautions as you can.
You may not know it but the egg, is a Breeding ground for bacteria and Virus alike. Cooking the egg properly produces something that humans can consume without risk. Most many animals eat the eggs of other animals. Humans are not that different. However, the egg is also used to produce the Flu Virus. It's injected into the egg and it multiplies rapidly. This is then used for your vaccines. You may enjoy a Rare Stake or a Sunny side up egg, but these things are high risk on the uncooked foods. We are not the only things that like to eat them, and what eats them, also likes to eat us. Remember that the next time you dip into that gooey yellow stuff.
When you look into the Abyss the Abyss stares back into you.
Living life involves taking reasonable risks. I can eat undercooked foods and mitigate my risk by doing so only at home or at fine restaurants, and only with local and fresh ingredients. There's a big difference between eating steak tartare once a year at an incredibly high quality local restaurant and ordering your steak bloody at Denny's. There's also a difference between eating a locally-produced, organic egg over easy versus eating one you bought at Wal-Mart.
Yes I agree a properly cooked egg is your best deterrent against bacteria. However, in cooking if you cook a poached egg all the way through you have done it wrong.
I have 11 hens and make eggnogs daily and never worry about disease. A typical day I'll consume 4-8 eggs. Triglycerides, cholesterol, all numbers are within healthy ranges. Hope I don't die tomorrow!
Yeah I find gooey so disgusting. Specially if anybody tries to kiss me good-bye afterward. Yuck that egg breath, stays there even if you brush your teeth and use Scope....but that is just me :-)...
The best defense is not to eat any eggs at all. We don't need them, they're bad for our health, and they cause birds immense suffering. This recall is the latest reminder that we should all heed.
They're bad for our health? Last I heard, they were a valuable source of protein and a crucial ingredient in most of my favorite recipes... I'll keep my eggs, thank you.
Don't be rediculous. Of course we need to eat eggs. I'm a weight lifter. I need a source of protein and egg whites are the best. I eat at least two dozen hard boiled egg whites a week.
How about beans & nuts? And you are throwing away egg yolk? What a waste!
My son is a bodybuilder and athlete of some note. He does not eat eggs. He gets lean protein from soy and greek yogurt, as well as organic whey protein powder, with the very occasional addition of naturally caught calamari. He's healthy as a horse, and strong too. I am a vegan and am strong, healthy and not too thin. Lentils, beans, soy and some organic dairy, as well as lots of nuts, fruits, and veggies are my food sources. Grow up! You don't need eggs or meat. You simply want it, and you're too lazy or too rigid to learn otherwise. For those of you who find it funny that some of us care about more than you–grow up! Gratuitous cruelty is the mark of a toddler.
So, some serious frustration here. I have been reading numerous posts and seriously can everyone just get a grip! You all seem to think that what you believe or feel is the only correct point of view. From someone saying that because you say you can't afford $5 for a carton of eggs than you must be fat to someone saying your too lazy to eat differently. Come on people make the choices they feel are best for their lives. Get over it and let people live how they choose.
@Sebastian, since the eggs aren't good for us, then certainly the chicken would be a wonderful roaster. HUMMM!!!! Chicken–sound delicious right about now since you say the eggs aren't good for you; Like everything else in life, if you eat them in moderation, then it is OK, but I guess you are downing them by the dozen or so hence why you claim they are bad for you. Got any facts to support that an egg or two every other week is bad for you. Crossing the middle of a busy highway is bad, not a freaking egg.
Did you forget about your B12 pill this morning?
Eggs are going to be produced by hens regardless of whether anyone eats them or not. I have chickens and roosters and they all free range our 3 acres during the day and are in a 500 square foot secure pen at night where they can go inside their coops or stay out and roost protected from predators. We use no pesticides, our chickens are not fed antibiotics and the eggs are not cleaned before we use them. Cleaning eggs before you are going to use them takes away the protective coating they have. I can eat eggs freshly laid by my hens that have wonderful deep yellow yolks and taste nothing like the wishy washy eggs that are bought in the grocery store.
Amen! that is awesome. I am so jealous. My family used to farm and have chickens as well and there is nothing like a fresh egg!
2nd AMEN! However, I just want to clarify that you mean that you do not wash the eggs UNTIL it is time to use them. I am thinking it is a good idea to wash off the eggs before breaking the shell.
They cause the birds immense suffering? Their natural inclination causes them immense suffering? You have to be kidding me! Should we spay all chickens so that they won't have to go through the immense suffering of egg laying? Why don't you tell that to my happy and healthy flock of egg laying hens? That has to be the most inane comment I have ever read.
I am pretty sure Sebastien wasn't saying the laying of eggs causes the birds immense suffering. I think he was referring to the practices involved in keeping egg laying chickens, such as beak cutting. That said, I do not agree that eggs are unhealthy.
I hate to tell you Sebastian but hens will lay eggs regardless if we eat them or not!! You're the type that is clueless where your food comes from.
Sebastian: People need protein sources. A LOT of people are allergic to nuts. Or to soy.
And need I remind you of the never-ending recalls on sprouts and spinach???
Nuff said.
"Sebastian
The best defense is not to eat any eggs at all. We don't need them, they're bad for our health, and they cause birds immense suffering. This recall is the latest reminder that we should all heed."
Laying eggs causes "immense suffering"? Eggs are bad for us? Where did you get your medical degree? Or ANY degree for that matter? Did your parents have any kids who survived childhood?
Try rephrasing your rant, so as to make a lucid thought, not a knee jerk outpouring of ignorance.
Sebastian – don't push your vegan views on others. In the US we have choice – vote with your dollar at the grocery store.
You can't go wrong with eggs from organically fed, pastured raised hens. It's organic and is an ethical treatment of poultry. You can buy this kind of egg at Whole Foods.
Eggs are NOT bad for your health. Put down your twinkie and your cigarette and latte... people have been eating eggs since the time of the dinosaurs. it's one thing if you're vegan for ethical reasons but don't throw out ridiculous unfounded statements. are you aware of good cholesterol and protein? that's EGGS my friend.
oopsie. that was meant for Sebastian
People been eating steaks for thousands of years also, and for years and years people ate a giant steak and 2-3 eggs, but you wouldn't suggest people still eat like that these days do you? Or do you? People can eat anything they want if done in moderation, but eating 2-3 whole eggs every day IS bad for you. (in my opinion)
Despite what the producers of The Flintstones or certain religious fanatics might have you believe, people weren't around at the time of the dinosaurs. Otherwise, you make a decent point – people have been eating eggs for a long time and they are a good source of protein.
um...did you just say 'people have been eating eggs since the age of the dinosaurs'? I think maybe that was a typo or I read it wrong.....i hope
but twinkies have eggs in them already!
Since the time of the dinosaurs? Really??? ;-)
Human beings didn't exist when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, *sigh* however, eggs are not bad for you – especially if you compare them to the HFCS/hydrogenated/modified crap most of us eat on a regular basis...
Also, when buying Organic go to a reputable source. Certain large chain super stores might find it easier to buy organic stickers than the actual organic food. Do not buy your food from a store where you can get a TV or tires.
Greg, you still have to be careful. Not all eggs (or meats) at Whole Foods are humanely raised even if they claim to be. There is only one national humane certification program that actually verifies truly humane family farms. Check out Animal Welfare Approved at http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org for real humane standards. Some "humane" groups have really sold the issue out. They push cage-free when all that means is the farmers are cramming thousands of chickens into a dark dirty barn to kill each other. We need real standards and so far Animal Welfare Approved is the only group doing just that that I have seen.
Chris – have you been in a modern cage free barn? They are neither dark or dirty. Get out of the city and see first hand where your food comes from. You've been brain washed by the media, HSUS, and pop culture. What you'll find is that 98% of all farms in America are family owned, efficient, clean, and supplying the US and world with food. Just think – do you know one single farmer that farms for their living? American's are too disconnected with where food, the food that keeps us living, comes from.
Greg – You're absolutely right. And those "pasture-raised" eggs, where the hens get a diverse diet and exercise, taste soo much better and the yokes look so much more appealing than even the "cage-free organic" eggs I use to buy.
It is amazing that we have to parse the words of these product descriptions and assume the worst in order to figure out the actual conditions in which the eggs are produced.
It's frustrating at how misleading these labels are. If the average person reads, "Free Range" on a carton of eggs, they think of a chicken happily clucking in a yard. In reality, free range, means virtually nothing. The hens are still in squalid conditions.
It's more expensive but please try to buy from small farmers who vouch for the lives their chickens lead. We pinch pennies in order to eat more ethically. It's tough but very rewarding.
I'm fortunate in that I live out in the country where lots of people have chickens and eggs to spare. Maybe it's not as cheap as picking up a carton at Wal-Mart, but I feel much better about buying from a local farmer and supporting my local economy than I do throwing a few more bucks at a distant factory farm.
Glad to be a "country girl for these reasons as well Lydia...
I'm a "City Girl" and have no choice but to buy the 5.00 dollar all organic – free range- cage free or the 1.59 dozen eggs.
On a budget, do not have the luxury. Organic goods should NOT COST SO DAM MUCH. thanks
For all you City Gals and Guys, check out http://www.localharvest.org. It's a website to find local farmers near you. Many will deliver weekly to convenient locations in the city.
To Fed Up: You wouldn't be complaining about the cost of eggs if you knew how hard the people on small farms work in order to ensure that the animals are treated in a humane and respectful manner. Eggs should never be $1.59 a dozen, because the only way to get them that cheap is to treat them like assembly line commodities.
Stop bitching about 5.00 a carton well made non-factory organic non-cage eggs. Just eat less of them you fat hog.
Freakin Walmart morons, no wonder so many people look like Sows right off the farm themselves. Good stuff costs money, pay for quality and EAT LESS it will do you some good for god's sake –pathetic.
Well-made American stuff costs money, our farmers will make it good and healthy but stop being a bunch of overfed whiners and pay for the good stuff. Otherwise, take your cheap factory farm crap or even more polluted Chinese imports and shut-to-hell-up.
I pay 1.50 for eggs that are from chickens that get corn, grass, bugs, etc., and none of the junk they feed the poor production chickens.. I wouldn't mind paying more if they so desire to raise the price.. It's worth it to know where the eggs come from and the condition of the chickens laying them.. Too bad more people don't have this access.
Lydia, you are so right. I live in the Atlanta area, and tons of people in the city raise their own hens that just run around their back yards and in the suburbs people head out to the local farms. I buy eggs from chickens that are running around acres of land for $2.00 a dozen. The freshest most amazing eggs on the planet!!
Thanks Jennifer of Serious Farms, for the website. Just found a ton of new places now in my surrounding area to check into! :)
Dear Fed Up and other "city girls" and guys- MOST larger cities have various farmers markets where local farmers can sell their product. I regularly go to the Union Square farmer's market in NYC – happens 4x a week for crying out load – to get my eggs when I can. I get Trader Joe's Cage Free etc as well and hope that their practices are legit, but am grateful that we have access to farmer's markets all over this city. Upper West Side, Brooklyn, and several others occupy the city several days every week.
Lydia has the right idea. we should buy from a local farmers market if one is close by
I am lucky enough to live where we can raise our own chickens which, in my case eat organic food and roam outdoors every day the wether permits, and have never been caged. As Larry notes, they do usually have to be out , roaming, in a situation where they have the protection of a person around to chase predators or some really strong portable fencing! I have been having raw eggs in a fruit smoothie every day for years, never had any reason to worry about disease. The cost of organic foods in high but worth it, I think. The food I buy for my birds costs at least twice the price of conventional, but I trust that it is chemical and GMO free.
I agree, very misleading but not surprising at all. I guess the only way to know for sure is to buy them locally from a farm you can lay eyes on.
Good for you, Amanda! We, too, aren't rich, but we'll give up something else in order to eat in a way that is as ethical as possible. So many people tell me "Oh, I have to buy the absolute cheapest," or, "I have to shop at Wal-Mart. I don't agree with their practices, but I can't afford to shop anywhere else!" Meanwhile they've driven their luxury SUV to the store, have an 80-inch TV, etc.
It's not that hard to walk the walk. You just have to decide whether you are the most important person/thing/being on this planet or not.
I am with you Lara. I see all kinds of folks in my world who complain they can't afford to eat humanely. But they get in an Escalade with 8k rims and watch a plasma TV! I buy local, humane and NEVER get my food from WalMart!
I agree. I buy local as much as possible. It can be more expensive but at least the food is of a higher quality and nutrient dense. I drive an old car and wear the same clothes I've had 10 years or more because I choose to spend most of my money on better and wholesome food.
I totally agree. I live next to a super Wal-Mart and I see the SUV and big screen crown all the time. I refuse to go to Wal-Mart not only because of their labor practices but also because I just don't trust the food that they sell. I try to buy ethically produced meat as much as possible and that just can't be done on the cheap. You can almost guarantee that the meat and eggs sold at discount markets come from animals that have suffered a great deal.
I agree that buying from your local farms is preferred, however, in many cases that option is just not available. I live in a small town in Arizona. The summer months get as hot as 120+. We of course have a Walmart nearby (just as these big corporations would like it to be), the closest farm w/ produce and eggs for sale is over 45 min away. We have a co-worker who raises his own chickens and sells us his surplus when he has any but sometimes that just isn't enough for our family. Sometimes there just is no other alternative!
Well said Lara and all that abhor horrid factory farming practices! Live ethically and embrace true health with humane priorities. I only purchase organic and from local farmers, when possible. Wake Up America, this is Your health! Stop whining about cost of health care if you douse your family with chemicals and toxins from factory "food" producers.
Really...you people see someone post they can not afford $5 eggs and immediately assume they drive a Cadi!! I have the newest car in the family and it is 9 years old! We have one TV...it is 11 years old...we do not have cable. My wife and I both have good jobs we save for the future when we can. There are a lot of people worse off. I recycle, plant trees every year etc...I buy the cheapest eggs I can (but avoid wal-mart.) How high and mighty of you to quickly cast judgement. Imagine those single income families with hungry kids...they need their their protein and Eggs are a great source but poor broke mom should maybe make each kid only eat 1/2 and egg for dinner so she can sleep knowing the chicken had an extra 2 inches of space.
I come from a farming community too...Organics are a niche market for a reason.
I don't buy any food from Wal-Mart, especially meats after eating my sister-in-law's terrible ribs from there and I then bought some cheap walmart brand frozen corn while shopping there one day. it was horrible... really probably the corn they use for animal feed. you get what you pay for.
If you have a yard, look into local ordinances about keeping a couple hens. Many places allow this, and a network of backyard chicken fanciers will help you find hens and get set up. Hens are quiet, clean, and friendly. I keep buff orphingtons, who are real sweet hearts and give me about 4 eggs per hen each week. Everything you need to know is at backyardchickens.com.
It's so rewarding in every way to buy and eat food that has been respectfully and ethically produced. I would not want to leave my kids a house or piece of land that was black and barren and polluted with sewagey water and befouled air. How is the planet any different? We've got to get over this 'money now, thoughts later' mentality, it's so selfish and just literally stupid.
Amen!
We belong to a CSA that provides us their locally-produced vegetables all year round. For a little extra more they acquire and resell to us a half-dozen local, organic, cage-free eggs with each vegetable bin. I think it costs $2.50, but it means that I know my eggs didn't come from any major supplier and aren't involved with any of the major recalls. Plus everything is delivered to my office or my choice of local farmer's markets each week, and everything is harvested no more than a day before I take it home.
Right – People really need to be careful when buying eggs. When I first read that 'free range' just meant that the chickens have to have access to some sunlight every day (which could mean 1 minute of sunlight into the hell they live are exposed to the rest of the day), I was appalled.
These so called "farmers" who run the food industry nowadays completely sicken me. Why can't people see that the reason this salmonella fear is around is because of the conditions we have the animals in? Confining thousands of chickens to a tiny space where they lay eggs all day only increases the chances of one sickness affecting all of them. It's the same story for the entire meat industry, and the government needs to take action. It's making us sick... literally.
try watching food inc.
I totally agree. It is so much better to try and by from a local farmer. 9 times out of 10 they aren't slammed full of steroids and awful things like that too. I am lucky enough to live in a small town so I buy from a local farmer and have the freshest eggs you can buy AND I know the chickens are treated like they don't matter. Drives me crazy to see how they treat those poor birds.
You need to learn more about your food before claiming "steroids" are in it. Hormones / steroids are illegal to use in poultry. If you see a package of chicken with a "hormone free" label on it, that is called absense labeling, just marketing to get you to buy their product.
This is the ideal but in some areas of the country you can't sell eggs without expensive permits or inspections. I think many people would be able to keep a few hens if laws were designed to support the practice. A few hens are much quieter then my neighbors dogs. 2 hens will lay from four to eight eggs a week and are a real hoot to watch.
true.
Great Point Amanda!
The Solution is buying from small farmers(local if possible) who have nothing to hide and whose business practices are not shady or misleading. I buy eggs from Flying Pigs Farm(NY), at the Union Square Market and i'm assured that its of the best quality.
What about pasteurized shell eggs?
if they are pasteurized they are heated to a certain temperature so the virus can't survive. However, cook the eggs entirely to be sure.
Salmonella is a bacterium, not a virus
Salmonella may infect the egg before the shell is formed, in which case pasteurization will not be as effective.
Source: Differences among six Salmonella serovars in abilities to colonize reproductive organs and to contaminate eggs in laying hens ~M. Okamura et al. Avian Diseases, 2001
Lenny is incorrect. If eggs are pasteurized to a 5 log reduction, then the Salmonella is comletely destroyed (inside and outside the egg) and the egg is safe to consume in any format. The leading compnay in the industry was all over TV yesterday – Davidson's (www.safeeggs.com).
People should also consider what the chickens eat. Chickens are not vegetarian, they are omnivores, they need to eat bugs and worms in their diet also to keep them healthy. "Vegetarian fed" stamped on the carton is just a ploy. They are feeding the chicken soy or some grain and trying to play that up. But that's what they've always been fed. It's nothing special. Setting the chickens loose in the pasture allows them to catch bugs as well. That will reduce the sicknesses that the chickens have and pass onto the eggs. An omnivorous chicken lays a healthier egg as well.
Actually, most chickens receive anywhere from 5-15% of their diet in the form of a rendered animal meal (think guts, feathers, etc. cooked down into a meal and added to the feed. Can be from chicken, pigs, cattle fish etc). Labeling as vegetarian fed actually is a meaningful difference. Also, it is not that they need bugs or worms as part of their diet but rather they need a source of protein. The protein routinely supplied through animal byproducts can also be taken care of through soy or other "vegetarian" feed ingredients. Just wanted to dispel some inaccuracies in your post.
if you look on a bag of "layer type" chicken feed, you will often find the ingredient "poultry by-product"- this can and does include things like feathers, beaks, chicken MANURE, etc. all boiled down into a slurry then mixed and dried into the pellets. I've raised chickens for 25 years and they have always been free range. I can not see how a hen can even lay an egg comfortably in one of those battery cages. All my hens have always stood up immediately prior to laying their eggs. These battery cages do not even give them room to stand up to their full height. Disgusting.
I have laying hens for my personal egg consumption. The feed I use (from Purina) is non-medicated and contains NO animal by-products. The hens range freely and eat loads of bugs. Their diet is supplemented with veg treats. This whole recall completely reinforces why each year I try to get one more of my food sources off the grid.
I'm glad you pointed this out-chickens are not naturally vegetarian and, as you say, it is nothing special to give them a feed based on grain . They thrive on a diet that includes their foraged bugs and other scraps.
Pasteurized eggs in the shell are completely Salmonella and bacteria free so they are safe to consume in any format – raw, partially cooked, and/or fully cooked. I saw the company on the news yesterday that produces this product and I looked them up at http://www.safeeggs.com. They have a store locator link.
This is disgusting. Why is this allowed to get beyond our governments control? Why do we have a USDA anyway? Then they tell us.... we are to just throw the eggs away? Give me my money back first. Shall I eat it.... then play stupid and then sue? I think our government USDA needs to be sued. For not doing there job and not protecting us Americans. Just like the BP oil spill, and Meat recalls and car recalls. Are you people trying to kill us??????
Um... this is very disturbing to me too, but you obviously did not read the article...at least one of your arguments is mute. See the last sentence: "Consumers who believe they may have purchased the recalled shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund."
Many Americans have fallen for the "deregulation" con articulated by Conservatives. They depict American corporations as swimming in government red tape. What "deregulation" means is getting rid of consumer safety, workplace safety, and minimum wage regulations.
the question you pose in and of itself shows that you are not truly an american. Of course they are trying to kill us. Everyone that sells somethign to us is trying to kill us. Alcohol, cigarette, mac donalds, oil, cell phones, ink pen, bubble gum, car, video game companies all care about making money form you and not actually you yourself. you are a consumer. your job is to consume. They dont care if you live or die, someone will come along after you and pick up the slack. They just care that they have a product, make it marketable, and can get it to as many stores as possible. DO you really think that some government agent making above minimum wage is above being bribed, or better yet is competent enough to do their job? Hell no. Just like the guy at the airport who is a highchool drop out has no idea how to work the multi million dollar machinery provided that is supposed to keep us safe in the air. It is all a guise to keep the sheep thinking they are safe. Just like the USDA or the fda or anyother governmental regulatroy agency. They give joe average the semblance of safety, but when the shit hits the fan and people are injured, there is a lot of finger pointing, conjecture, and then....nothing...and the band plays on.
If this is posted I will be surprised-
But-–vaccines are produced in eggs. Maybe there IS no salmonella, but the eggs are needed by the Pharmas to make a new batch of H1N1 and seasonal flu ( and possibly H5N1) vaccines this year- perhaps the strains have mutated, or they want to get them into people ASAP (money, all of the Tamiflu is expired???)
Calling back the eggs is a perfect excuse to use them for vaccine production, so-voila!–in time for the start of the school year, there's a vaccine for all. Business is business....