Picture this – you’re walking through a jewelry store hoping to find a beautiful, new diamond necklace. You spot one that catches your eye with its brilliant sparkle and design. As you are envisioning this radiant piece adorning your neck, you see another diamond necklace almost identical in appearance. This look-a-like necklace has only one visible difference. It is only one-third of the price of the first! Maybe the impulsive side of us would want to jump on the hefty discount before it’s too late. Yet, most of us would pause and question what the discounted necklace is lacking that allows it to be sold for a fraction of the cost of the other. Now, I would venture to guess that most of us do not find ourselves in the market for a new diamond necklace on a regular basis. However, it is this same healthy skepticism that should guide us as we shop for another precious commodity: eggs. Let’s briefly dive into some of the “hidden costs” of conventional, store-bought eggs and discuss the true value of buying pasture-raised eggs.
Nutrition: Compared to the official nutrient data the USDA offers for store-bought, conventional eggs (eggs from hens raised in a confinement chicken house), on average pasture-raised eggs contained:
- 1/3 less cholesterol
- 1/4 less saturated fat
- 2/3 more vitamin A
- 2 times as much Omega-3 fatty acids
- 3 times as much vitamin E
- 7 times more beta-carotene
In addition to being nutritionally inferior, the production methods for conventional eggs rely heavily on the use of antibiotics and growth hormones, both of which wreak havoc on the well-being of the laying hens and the people who consume their eggs.
Creation-stewardship: While the book of Genesis tells us that God gave man dominion over the animals (Gen 1:26), we know that with great power comes great responsibility. As a follower of Christ, I believe I exercise my responsibility as a steward of creation through the decisions I make each day, which includes the way I vote with my dollar. There is nothing beautiful about a factory farming system. While such a mechanistic approach towards life and farming may prove to be more profitable on paper, I am convinced that the few dollars I would save by buying conventionally farmed eggs could never justify the consequences of supporting this model of farming. An article from Mother Earth News offers a valuable sentiment on this discussion:
“Free-range/pastured eggs are likely to be more expensive because production costs are higher. As usual, you get what you pay for. If you buy the cheapest supermarket eggs, you are not only missing out on the valuable nutrients eggs should and can contain, you are also supporting an industrial production system that treats animals cruelly and makes more sustainable, small-scale egg production difficult” (Long & Alterman 2007).
I believe seeking out pasture-raised eggs from a local farmer is one simple way I can practice living out the wholehearted lifestyle Paul preaches in 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (NIV).
(More on this topic: https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/free-range-eggs-zmaz07onzgoe)