When it comes to purchasing animal products, I prefer to use organic and cage free products. However, recently I read an article in Health magazine regarding the definition of cage free eggs. Apparently cage free can mean that the chickens are kept inside but allowed to roam in a limited space. On the other hand, organic eggs are cage free and must be allowed to roam outside. When I thought about it, there are just so many labels to keep track of and it can be difficult to determine what is the better product. This article really opened my eyes and I will definitely look specifically for the organic eggs!
I also recently read this article in Slate magazine which discusses whether cage-free pigs are treated humanely. Although I do not eat pork, this article does show the difficulty in using the definition of cage free. It can lead consumers to believe that the animals are also treated humanely- but this may not always be the case. Surely it is something to think about.
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great idea ashley! I will definitely order the book from Amazon!
For anyone interested in this and related topics, I HIGHLY recommend reading Peter Singer’s “The Ethics of What We Eat.” I have read the book cover to cover and then back again on certain topics, but you can easily pick and chose your areas of interest including eggs, fish, beef, pork, fair-trade, etc.
It’s changed several of my eating practices and is easily one of the most influential books I have ever read. It will also help you sort out these pesky titles and explain what’s really behind them.