If you’re an egg-eater, you could swear off eggs until federal investigators determine the cause of the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened thousands of people and led to the recall of a half billion eggs.
Or you could use common sense and avoid industrial eggs all together.
Salmonella outbreaks occur in chickens when they live in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Infected hens transmit the bacteria to their eggs.
Chickens that are confined in cages or crowded sheds are more likely to be contaminated, while chickens raised on pasture are less at risk for disease.
It’s common sense that contaminated fecal matter will spread more readily among 100,000 confined birds jammed into tiny cages or crowded spaces than it will among birds roaming freely on pasture.
It’s common sense that hens living in close contact with out-of-control rodent populations that can transmit salmonella to birds will be more diseased than chickens living outside.
It’s common sense that de-beaked and force-molted birds will be more prone to disease than chickens that are allowed to peck, build nests, and exhibit their natural chicken-y behavior.
It’s common sense that hens fed a strict diet of corn and soy will be less healthy than hens that forage for a diverse array of greens and insects.
It’s common sense that tortured chickens are going to be more susceptible to disease than happy chickens that spend their days scratching and foraging on pasture.
So if you want to eat eggs but don’t like worrying about Salmonella contamination, skip the supermarket and visit your local farmers market instead.
The Mrs is looking forward to this weekends market, hopefully there is a run on our pastured eggs!
I suspect there might be!
No good can come out of a chicken’s booty! :D
Quote of the day!