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August 24th, 2010
07:54 AM ET
What type of eggs do you buy?
The latest salmonella outbreak involving millions of eggs is bringing up a familiar discussion.
Which eggs are best? Factory eggs, cage-free or organic?
We want to know what type of eggs do you buy and why?
Email us your responses and Kyra will read them during our egg recall conversation during the 10am hour of CNN Newsroom.
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Post by: Filed under: Anchors • Kyra Phillips |
We buy cage free organic eggs because of the animal cruelty suffered at the hands of factory farming. While there is a risk of salmonella with ALL types of eggs, we cannot support animal cruelty.
This Spring I bought my own chickens. There is absolutely nothing like an egg which is both fresh and safe. Anyone can have 2 or 3 chickens in their back yard. (Check your 'zoning' laws). With no roosters, it is quiet...and they are beautiful animals to keep.
Barbara
I just bought some organic, free range chicken and eggs. They cost more but the reason I bought them and will continue to buy is for the humane treatment of the chickens.
I buy Kroger brand eggs since they are cheap! As a poor college student, my grocery budget is usually pretty tight.
We have two hens who lay eggs. When we need extra eggs we buy cage free, local eggs. We are fully aware of what our chickens eat and feel good knowing that they, like our garden are a safe food source for our family. We live in a suburb.
I thought that if you cooked the eggs thoroughly, the salmonella bacteria would be destroyed and the eggs would be safe to eat.
Many years ago I had a case where a group of people got sick from eating undercooked lasagna that had been made by mixing raw eggs into ricotta cheese. The upshot of the case was that had the lasagna been cooked sufficiently, there would have been no problem.
I don't buy eggs based on how they came to be. I will buy all types of eggs but I do have one practice. Since I live alone and don't go through eggs on a daily basis I rotate between the brown and white eggs when I buy them. This way I know which are the oldest and should be used first.
We buy cage free and hoping they, the manufacturer, are telling us the truth! The media should Tell The Truth and show a giant egg production farm and let the viewer decide for themselves why there is a huge recall!
Only eb eggs or Organic eggs will be consumed in our household.
By the way, a law suite against the egg farms is only going to hurt us, the consumer. Egg prices will go up to cover the losses.
We eat EB (Egglands Best) eggs only. They're always fresh, very clean, high in omega 3, and taste great. And, they're produced by over 30 farms all over the country so time from chicken to your fridge is quite short.
"Brown eggs are local eggs and local eggs are fresh (?)."
"Most sincerely",
DONNIE Salem Mass.
EST. 1626
Tainted eggs are only the latest health concern. Issues like this have plagued consumers for years. This is another example of our broken government. Why can't the FDA and our legislators do something about this ongoing problem?
We raise our own eggs. Our chickens are out in the grass and sunshine. Our eggs have tougher shells and dark orange yolks. If I had to buy eggs, I would want eggs from chickens that were able to go outside and eat grass and bugs like ours do. We also raised most of our own vegatables this summer.
Many people can raise their own eggs by keeping a few hens in a moveable pen in their back yard. Side benefit of mowed and fertilized grass.
Hi Kyra,
I only buy organic cage free eggs. I believe these animals deserve to be treated humanely. If you do believe that they are God's creatures how can you do otherwise.
The food we get from these animals nourishes ourselves and our children, it gives us life. If I am feeding my child eggs, meat or vegetables I want it to come from the best possible sources. Something I can feel good about .
I choose to buy organic eggs and produce because I want only food in my food! Despite the slightly higher price, I feel better knowing that my body is nourished with real food, rather than chemicals and processes designed only to make food cheaper to produce and store. I'm the only one looking after my body and health - the food companies are looking out for their bottom line. They're not always one in the same.
I only buy cage free organic eggs because it only makes sense that thousands of chickens kept in close confinement will not be healthy chickens. It takes healthy chickens to produce healthy eggs. My son has 4 chickens in his back yard where they can run free and eat bugs and grass. I buy from him when he has them available, but he has more customers than eggs.
I buy cage free eggs, and organic cage free if available. I do this thinking that the hens are treated better and therefore the eggs may be better. However last night I read that cage free does not necessarily mean a safer egg. My 27 year old son is a vegan- I'm seriously thinking of joining him!!!
Normally we buy locally produced eggs, brown - extra large or large from Ct. They have a consistent great taste, exhibits consistent size for their category.
Factory eggs sometimes look smaller than the size that they are labelled.
I believe the moral thing to do is to buy cage-free, or free-range eggs. Just thinking about the way the chickens are treated in the factory farms makes my stomach hurt.
This would be a good topic for CNN to expand on to inform people what kind of business they are supporting when they choose to buy eggs that aren't cage-free. They way those chickens are treated is terribly inhumane!
I am writing to point out to you and other CNN reporters that you are reporting something that may be harmful because of the way you are saying it. I have twice heard the comment that "eggs that come in a carton have been pasturized, so they are safe." I know you are meaning a "milk" type carton, but I think some people may think you mean "egg" cartons. It is a small mistake, but one that in this case could cause a big problem.
I buy cage free eggs. I don't think most people know that hens are crammed together in tiny cages with their beaks cut off. Americans are kind-hearted and would pay a little bit more for eggs from humane farms.
Especially since inhumane conditions greatly increase the chance for salmonella.
I used to never pay attention, but then farms became corporations as they began to mess with the food with drugs, hormones, steroids, antibiotics and or animal by-products in the chicken feed while trying to produce fatter bigger chickens with more eggs.
After 8 to 10 years of slowly getting head aches, sluggish, dizzy, developing food allergies, feeling sickly and tired all the time I finally stopped eating just any old cheap brand and began buying Free Roaming Grade A – produced without the use of drugs, antibiotics or animal by-products.
I physically feel the difference. So if we are really serious about the connection with eating healthy, why do we allow the farming corporations industry in our country to continue making profits while getting Americans sick? Why don't we just penalize them, forcing them to pay for all of our Medical health care since the Farming corporate industry is responsible to causing the illnesses plus obesity of our Americans with all the stuff they put into our eggs, meats, poultry, dairy products, grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Solve two problems at once, the obesity in our country and the health care costs.
We purchase cage free eggs that have been certified and monitored by the American Humane Association. The American Humane Association created the first welfare certification program in the United States to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals. The American Humane® Certified program (formerly known as the Free Farmed program) provides third-party, independent verification that certified producers’ care and handling of farm animals meet the science-based animal welfare standards of American Humane.
We feel that animals allowed to live the way nature intended are less stressed and therefore less likely to spread disease.
Only cage free eggs! This recent outbreak should serve as a wake-up call to the public to learn about where their food is coming from. Factory farms are filth laden, animal jails filled with toxic air. Chickens are forced to live in unnatural conditions and even have their beaks cut or burned off to prevent them from pecking. Is it really a surprise that disease results?Karma is trying to tell us that unmitigated animal cruely will eventually come around to the humans who inflict the pain or do nothing to stop it.
Cage-free and Organic only here. People are totally unaware of the conditions at most egg-producing farms in the country. The image of a small family farm with chickens running around on grass represents only a small percentage of this countries egg farms. Most use what are affectionately called "intensive farming techniques" by the industry. This means your eggs are coming from 4-foot cages filled with 20 hens in a pitch black room covered in feces 95% of the time. Americans cannot remain ignorant but must begin protesting the FDA's current definition of edible "food."
Kyra,
Have you noticed that every recall brings out people who say there aren't enough inspectors? There are the same people who shun big government and don't want our taxes raised. Go figure!
Jack
Dear Krya: Just wanted to tell you that on Monday 8/23 when you did your news broadcast in NYC your hair and makeup was very flattering to you. I guess your orchid dress with the ruffles on your right shoulder all made a beautiful picture. You should hire that person to fix your hair and makeup always. Today your back in Georgia and who ever did your hair and makeup does not do you justice. Just wanted to tell you how beautiful you looked on Monday.
Have a nice day.
MGFO
This is another wake up call to support and reward local and small scale farmers. People need to realize that they are being duped about their food sources with these mass production industries masquerading as farmers. The eggs that come from these "farms" (not farms at all) are full of medicines and antibiotics and are not healthy even if they aren't tainted with salmonella. Large scale chicken houses are a breeding area for illness (both to the animal and the human), cruelty issues and environmental complications for those who live in an area where these monstrosities are located.
It is time to support the locavore and slow food movement. Small farmers raise their live stock with dignity and optimal conditions, therefore producing a healthier and happier product in the end. I have a few happy , healthy hens and no illness concerns. WAKE UP and ask where your food REALLY comes from!
Cage Free does not mean that the chickens are outside running around in the grass. All too often cage free chickens are confined in a barn, but they can be listed as cage free. Free Range can also mean that chickens are turned loose in a barn.
Organic eggs do not mean that the hens are running outside in the grass either. Organic refers to the hens being fed organic feed and that the farm has been certified organic. The hens could still be packed in small cages.
If you don't want to raise your own eggs, the best bet is to buy local
and support the family farms that are being driven out of business
by vertically integrated factory farms. If you buy local, some farms will let you come and tour the farm. Some states have farm bureau programs to encourage customers to tour local farms.
Texas Farms eggs from Wall Mart thank god I bargain shop name brand product's are dangerous especially drugs .
We purchase cage-free eggs. Chickens are naturally omniverous animals. Cage-free chickens are sometimes able to eat things other than grain. I believe these eggs are healthier as the chickens who lay them are healthier.
As far as salmonella is concerned, I believe the worst eggs to buy are those from farms that keep the chickens in those teeny cages. There is no real way to keep that environment clean enough. The chickens don't get any exercise, nor do they get fresh air. Those farms are just asking for problems.
I also agree with Bonnie in buying locally. In fact, I do buy my eggs locally. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to do so.
The abuse of farm animals in a company/factory farm is an excellent predictor of potential harm to humans. As we now know the DeCostner owned Wright Egg Company is the same company that was found guilty of animal cruelty, A landmark $100,000 case. If I buy eggs which being a vegetarian I seldom do, I only buy those that carry the Certified Humane (r) products label or American Humane Certification. Organic, cage free or free roaming does not necessarily mean humane treatment of the chickens. The egg industry as a whole is a very cruel industry.
The abuse of farm animals by a company/factory farm is a great
predictor of potential harm to humans. As we now know the DeCostner owned Wright Egg Company is the same company that was charged with animal cruelty a $100,000 fine landmark case.
If I buy eggs, which I seldom do because I am vegetarian, I only buy
Humane Certified (r) products or American Humane Certified.
Organic, cage free or free roaming does not necessarily mean
humene treatment of the animals. As a whole the egg industry is a very cruel industry. Comsumer Beware.
Anything that comes from a Chicken. It doesn't matter what you eat. When your time is up, not much you can do about it.
People will probably disagree with me. But, how many of your above contributors are smokers? Do they smoke a "healthy" cigarette? No such thing.
What type of eggs? I just make sure that I don't buy any that come from the US, lately. I support local farmers and producers when ever I can. If we all took that approach in everything we buy the economies of both our countries would be a lot better.
Hello,
Kyra Phillips and/or her producers : Please also use the twitter account of her. For what it´s there?
Thanks
Tom
We buy our eggs at a local sumermarket here in Toronto, CA. We've chosen different types over the years and I'm not sure if anyone has noticed a big difference in taste, digestability etc., though I've heard by word of mouth that the more expensive ones are probably healthier. If I really believed that they were absolutely better, not just marginally so, I would probably buy those ones, more for the family than for myself. I kind of take Dan's point of view on this one. Maybe a little fatalistic? If I had any doubt as to their being unsafe, I would not buy them at all, for the same reason as above. I am also concerned, esp. since I recently watched a documentary from the US, about the way chickens are raised, for other reasons.
I'm buying pasteurized eggs, Davidson's Safest Choice. I used to buy organic free range but now I'm sticking with pasteurized to be safe since I use themraw for all sorts of recipes and like sunny side up eggs for breakfast. I will still get other things local and organic but I know that doesn't make eggs safe – only pasteurization does.
The kids are going to have no fun this O Hollows eve .
If, as Elizabeth Cohen suggested yesterday, the problem comes from inside the chicken, why should a consumer want to buy one type of egg over another? ( or accept them freely as a gift, from other family members who are farmers, whatever the case may be ) Are there truly healthier eggs or just tastier ones? Just wondering.
This is a no brainer. Real free range and preferably organic is the only option.
That makes perfect sense! ( I mean the earlier segment ) That is, if they are raised in good conditions, closer to their natural state & habitat, probably their eggs ( & offspring ) will be healthier & happier. The eggs should be fine for our famlies – everyone is happy!!! We shouldn't forget also that nature is imperfect and therefore be always on our guard for the little ones...!
Kyra:
We know about the states that are included for fresh eggs, but what about the possibility, that these eggs are used in other products and then shipped out to even more states? Is this being looked into. I can buy uncooked frozen noodles in Florida, made in Ohio; and they have eggs in them. What about eggs in salad dressings, that may be uncooked, like caesar dressing? I just got out of the hospital last week for a bout of uncontrolled diarhea that even the hospital couldn't find the cause, but the treatment for stomach bacteria cleared it up.
British eggs
The images of chicken farm abuse from your show are burned in my mind forever. I tear up each time I replay them in my head. People who treat helpless living things that way have no heart, no soul. Especially knowing these chickens provide them with a livelihood! The person(s) shown in your piece (and others like them) should be forever blackballed from working anywhere near animals. An earlier story you did showing cows so sick they couldn't walk being beaten and kicked into stalls was equally appalling. Animals should be treated humanely and put down humanely. Period. I know animal abuse goes on everyday with chickens, pigs, cows, horses, dogs, cats and on and on. It's heart-breaking! Please help make this horrific abuse stop!
After the last eight dozen that I tossed out I am not buying any eggs for the rest of the year if not longer. I am not buying any fish for a few years as long as we cannot trust the government to do its job, because it gets gutted each time a new Administration comes into office, because it is far too close to big-business, our whole food chain is at risk! Why should we put our lives in danger so that the food corporations can make more profits from U.S. based business, and while inspectors who are supposed to protect us from foreign based business are force not to do their job of keeping us safe, because many of those once U.S. businesses have now gone offshore to save money so that they can make more money, through the use of little to no rules in other countries! Wasn’t there a bill that would ban us from growing our own food recently, Senate Bill S510? This is getting scary!
Your recent advice (happened to be about the egg recall) for viewers to go to your webb site to check the names of the companies that are being recalled is very bad advice. Do you ever think about how many folks that do not have the ability to do that? I run a Real Estate Company. When someone calls about seeimg a proporty that is for sale the first quwstion I ask is, do you have computer access to the internet so I could let them go to our homepage. At least 50% does not have access. This is for folks looking to buy property. Consider how many there might be of the elderly might not be able to check to see if their eggs are OK. ALL TV news does the same thing.
Applicants for the Head Start program should submit the previous year's W-2 forms and copies of the last 6 months paycheck stubs. Go ($) figure.