QUESTION:

Hi Ben, I have a question about organic egg.

Please correct me if I am wrong. Organic eggs on market are not necessarily free-range organic eggs, aren't they? On the other hand, free-range is not necessarily organic. Organic implies organic feeds and free of antibotics and hormones, but that is not the case for free-range. So ultimately we want free-range and organic chiken (and eggs) for our consumption.

So when an average Joe wants to buy eggs at a store, should he cares if they are organic (some are DHA fortified) or free-range?

I eat eggs and meats. I have watched for antibiotic and hormone use for my sake. Free-range is more humane for the short-life of chicken, but I did not extend my compassion to chickens that are destinated to be food.

The avian flu issue also makes me think that I want antibotic-free chichen because if virus infected checken does not get secondary bacterial infections, they may more likely become carriers of virus. Virus infected checken may more likely be noticed or die if they develop secondary bacterial infections. Do you think my assumption wrong?

BTW, thanks for good documentation of the use of homeopathy in surgery. The webpage is great. My thinking is unfortunate reductionism as a scientist, but I wish we could perform a RCT [random controlled trial] on faith-based medicine.

Best and Happy New Year

Eggin'

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ANSWER:

hey eggin' -

my first comment is to the homeopathy and rct's - i was formerly a reductionist [cell and molecular bio major] until i realized that there are many things that science and reducing something down to parts cannot explain - and in many instances - reducing things to parts destroys the overall mechanism of action of something which requires it to be whole.

every see dr bruce lipton's work - the new biology - biology of belief?? its in the bastyr library...check it out.

id also venture to say that homeopathy is not faith based medicine -rather it is something entirely different and what it is ive no idea - i just accept it when it works and when it doesnt - i either picked an incorrect remedy or it is not right for the person. i know that homeopathy is not faith based medicine as when you treat babies/infants with it and they respond in minutes with dramatically improved acute symptoms [such as teething pain and colic]- that says something - they do not know what is coming nor do they understand placebo effect - at least i dont believe so.

to the eggs - im not the one to answer that one but your thinking makes sense on desiring cage free and organic - i dont think they are related but perhaps they are - perhaps organic assoc require that the birds be cage free - who knows - i bet a google search would result in an answer.

free range vs. organic - good question. i am one to support the health of the chickens and that is why i receive emails from the humane society weekly. ive seen free range eggs being antibiotic and hormone free which is very important to me. and if they are free range - are they eating grass, seeds and other stuff chickens normally eat? i assume so but that doesnt mean squak.

but i personally buy free range most of the time. i also buy organic eggs. but to be brutally honest - my wife does most of the shopping as im so busy with other stuff! your question makes me think and i will look for both options in one - if it is available.

here is a company that has free range birdies and organic eggs - egg innovations

i recently signed a letter to trader joes to bring in cage free eggs into their store - as they didnt carry any at all. trader joes felt the heat and brought the cage free eggs into their store. this was due to the humane society's work and efforts.

your avian flu thoughts are interesting - and perhaps valid. i do not put my trust in someone noticing illnesses in birds esp due to the amount of accepted crap that goes on with the fda and usda. but id venture to say that antibiotic free birds are also not fed bullshit foods or chicken meat pellets. this would put the antibiotic free birds in better health also as they still have their proper gut flora which helps support innate immune function - those birds on antibiotics are more susceptible to infection as their gut flora is not supporting them at all in defense - rather it is making them weaker.

so overall the chickens that are free-range, organic and no antibiotics are overall more healthy and more likely to fend of infection - and in better spirits which also helps fend off infection - and when one of them gets sick - like your theory - i bet they are more likely to get noticed as it must be a rare occurrence - just like people without antibiotics seem to be more healthy overall than those on recurrent antibiotics...

i also think the avian flu is a bunch of hype...it's a threat in asia yes and can go worldwide but what are the odds and why so much media? im not following news at all on this so i may be completely insane by saying this but anytime media goes nuts i wonder..

when the media is quiet - that is what makes me nervous...

best
ben