Two Illinois consumers just sued Eggland’s Best for misrepresenting the pleasant and leisurely life its hens that lay cage free eggs supposedly experience.
The company claims inside every carton of its cage free eggs:
That says “every hen is free to roam in a pleasant natural environment…” This conjures up images of hens freely taking a leisurely stroll through a lush pasture.
Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
*MOUSE PRINT:
The lawsuit alleges:
The truth is that many hens producing Cage Free eggs live in typical factory farming conditions. They are confined indoors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They live in windowless structures made of concrete, metal, and dirt. The structures contain hundreds of thousands of hens packed so closely together that each bird has around one square foot of floor space (or less) to itself, and many hens living in these structures never see the sun or breathe fresh air.
2009 photo of an Eggland’s Best supplierAfter the lawsuit was filed, the company appears to have modified how they describe the “pleasant natural environment” in which the hens live:
*MOUSE PRINT:
In their legal case, the lawyers contend that these consumers paid a premium for Eggland’s Best eggs compared to conventional ones, expecting the hens to be humanely treated in the conditions described on the carton. They further contend they would not have paid extra or purchased these eggs at all if they knew the actual conditions where the eggs were harvested. They are suing the company for misrepresentation and deceptive business practices.
Cage free has always been a bogus claim. The only one that has any meaning is PASTURE RAISED. That should be accompanied with an organization that inspects the companies.
A good place to check on egg and dairy practices:
https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/eggs/
If you check Eggland’s best is among the lowest rated.
Two Roosters with a rainbow umbrella? No eggs, anytime soon.
Marty… Isn’t AI amazing? (Consumer World AI graphic imagining the absurd leisurely life of free roaming Eggland’s Best hens.)
I’m a luddite. I’ll stick with pencils, and pens and paper. On related note, egg prices bounce like a tennis ball. Last week at Aldi, a dozen set me back $3.97. Their chickens must have the best accommodations, with free HBO and room service.
The update isn’t any better. As the photo shows, they ain’t free to “roam in an open, comfortable barn environment,” either
The first clue would be the “all-vegetarian diet”. Sorry to burst your bubble people, chickens LOVE to scratch in the dirt for bugs and they will race to catch grasshoppers, mice and snakes….
On the flip side our human population is so huge that there is not enough land for farming as it is, so unless something changes factory farms are here to stay.
You know the rule.
Mankind goes to an area he likes, Kill all the predator’s, Cause he dont like Competition.
Then wants to farm and kills off the Herbivores, and the rest.
Then wonders why the hunting is so bad.
What would it take to Strip Central Africa, and turn it to a Giant Farm? That the Wind would Destroy Cause there are NO TREES.
Cage free has always been a joke. Good rule of thumb is, if the term isn’t legally defined, then it doesn’t matter.
If you only want to buy eggs that are from chickens that are truly well taken care of, then go to a farmer’s market and ask the seller about their barn conditions. Or, alternatively, ask around on Facebook for anyone selling their home grown unpasteurized eggs. Much more likely that chickens are well cared for by a single family with a dozen chickens.
Edgar:
That AI image is top tier!
They’re not the “best” either
Eggland’s Meh™
I’m cracking up at the A.I. image…
Vegetarian Chickens???
These animals Eat TONS of insects if you LET THEM EAT.
Now you know why we need Pesticides. RELEASE THE CHICKENS.
How many farmers would LOVE for these Chickens to Roam around their crops??