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Nutritional Doublethink Blog

When Did Chickens Go Vegan?

4/19/2016

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Illustration of a waiter serving an insect to a disapproviing chicken
It’s common to see eggs and chicken breasts advertised as 100% vegetarian-fed. At first glance, this might seem like a healthy choice. It’s easy to assume that meat and eggs from vegetarian-fed chickens are more nutritious than conventionally raised chickens.

There is one problem, chickens are not vegetarians. Chickens do not naturally seek out a 100% animal free, vegan diet. Chickens are omnivores; they are scavengers. Chickens eat a variety of insects including grasshoppers, pill bugs, spiders and even fly larvae (1). In contrast, corn is the most commonly used grain and soybean meal is the main protein in conventional chicken feed (2, 3). In addition, almost all soybean and corn in conventional chicken feed is genetically modified (4).

Picture of a promotion for Air Chillen Chicken, USDA Organic, fed vegetarian diet.
Consumers looking to avoid genetically modified foods may choose organic foods. To meet USDA organic livestock requirements, chickens must be fed 100% certified organic feed and managed without animal by-products (5). Many consumers consider this a reasonable requirement. But, without the ability to use animal byproducts (e.g.: meat-meal), grains and soy have become the mainstay of poultry feed for industrial organic farmers. A diet high in cereal grains is typically low in methionine, an essential amino acid. Methionine deficiency can retard growth, reduce egg production, result in poor feather growth and increase feather pecking (3). To help meet methionine requirements, synthetic methionine is fed to chickens. Yes, organic chickens can be fed “synthetic substances” as defined by the USDA (6).

We are being sold meat and eggs from naturally omnivorous chickens fed an organic, 100% vegetarian, synthetic substance supplemented diet.

In 2005, Mother Earth News published the results of a survey evaluating the nutrient content of eggs from pasture raised chickens and compared them to data in the USDA nutrient database for eggs from conventionally raised chickens. They found half as much cholesterol, twice as much vitamin E, four times more omega-3 fatty acids and up to six times more vitamin A in the eggs from the pasture raised chickens (7). Another survey published in Mother Earth News in 2007 found similar results (8).

Critics of these surveys point out that the results were not published in peer-reviewed journals and subsequent studies have both supported and contradicted the claims about cholesterol and vitamin content in free range eggs (9, 10). It’s important to keep in mind that the 2015 Dietary Guidelines have eliminated cholesterol intake limits due to the lack of evidence demonstrating a significant relationship between cholesterol in the diet, cholesterol in the blood and heart disease (11, 12, 13).
Organic Valley Omega-3 Fatty Acids Eggs
Despite the conflicting evidence, consumers have demanded meat and eggs from chicken raised in a more natural setting (14). Products with claims such as “cage free”, “free roaming” and “free range” are commonly found on egg cartons.
  • Cage free means hens are allowed to roam in a room or open area (15, 16), but does not mean hens have access to the outdoors.
  • Free range and free roaming give the impression chickens are roaming the hillside, foraging for insects in the grass. But, free range and free roaming, as defined by the USDA, mean chickens must be allowed access to the outdoors (17), but do not mean chickens actually go outside.

Although the organic label and the 100% vegetarian-fed statement may imply health, there is no evidence to support that the eggs are healthier. Cage free, free range and free roaming statements do not guarantee chickens roam outside and eat a natural, omnivorous diet. Pastured poultry, as defined by the HFAC’s Certified Humane® requirement, refers to chickens raised outdoors on a pasture (18). Eggs from pastured hens may have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids (a healthy fat), greater vitamin E content and more beta-carotene (7, 8, 9, 10).

References

  1. Rales M. Chickens Are Omnivores: It’s No Dilemma. The Weston A Price Foundation. June 29, 2010. http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/chickens-are-omnivores-its-no-dilemma/. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  2. Jacob J. Common Feed Ingredients in Poultry Diets. Extension. May 5th, 2015. http://articles.extension.org/pages/68432/common-feed-ingredients-in-poultry-diets. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  3. Jacob J. Synthetic Methionine and Organic Poultry Diets. Extension. August 27, 2013. http://articles.extension.org/pages/69042/synthetic-methionine-and-organic-poultry-diets. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  4. Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Use in the Chicken Industry. National Chicken Council. June 5, 2013. http://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/genetically-modified-organism-gmo-use-in-the-chicken-industry/. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  5. Organic Livestock Requirements. USDA Organic. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Organic%20Livestock%20Requirements.pdf. Last accessed April 19, 2016.
  6. §205.603   Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic livestock production. Title 7: Agriculture. Part 205 - National Organic Program. Current as of April 14, 2016. http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=dbb8b32072ddd7300e24900856d9621b&rgn=div8&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32.7.354.4&idno=7%20%28ttp://bit.ly/livestock-synthetics%29. Last accessed Aprl 16, 2016.
  7. Long C, Newbury U. Free-Range Eggs: The Good Egg. Tests show free-range eggs are more nutritious and have half the cholesterol of supermarket eggs. Mother Earth News. August/September 2005. http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/free-range-eggs.aspx. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  8. Long C, Alderman, T. Meet Real Free-Range Eggs. Mother Earth News.  October/November 2007. http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/free-range-eggs-zmaz07onzgoe.aspx. Last accessed April 16, 2018.
  9. H.D. Karsten, et al. Vitamins A, E and fatty acid composition of the eggs of caged hens and pastured hens. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. Volume 25. Special Issue 01. March 2010, pp 45-54.
  10. Anderson, KE. Comparison of fatty acid, cholesterol, and vitamin A and E composition in eggs from hens housed in conventional cage and range production facilities.  Poultry Science (2011) 90 (7): 1600-1608. doi: 10.3382/ps.2010-01289.
  11. Cholesterol. Nutrients of concern for overconsumption. Part D. Chapter 1: Food and Nutrient Intakes, and Health: Current Status and Trends. Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/06-chapter-1/d1-2.asp.
  12. Hu FB. A Prospective Study of Egg Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Men and Women. JAMA. 1999;281(15):1387-1394.
  13. Long Y, et al. Egg consumption and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. BMJ 2013;346:e8539. Published 07 January 2013.
  14. Digitale, R. Farmers expand to meet demand for pasture-raised eggs. The Press Democrat. February 22, 2013
  15. CSES Laying Hen Housing Research Project. Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThLEXBV6HW8. Last viewed April 16, 2016.
  16. Barnes R. Eggstra! Eggstra! Learn All About Them. United States Department of Agriculture. April 6, 2012. http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/04/06/eggstra-eggstra-learn-all-about-them/. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  17. Free Range or Free Roaming. Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/meat-and-poultry-labeling-terms/meat-and-poultry-labeling-terms. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  18. “Free Range” and “Pasture Raised” officially defined by HFAC for Certified Humane® label. Certified Humane. January 16, 2014. http://certifiedhumane.org/free-range-and-pasture-raised-officially-defined-by-hfac-for-certified-humane-label/. Last accessed April 16, 2016.
  19. When did chickens go vegan cartoon created by Christine Dobrowolski using cartoon man 2 by johnny_automatic, ant by Mogwai, pineapple and Chicken by j4p4n and corn by gnokii on Open Clipart, CC BY 2.0.
  20. Air Chilled Chicken and Organic Egg images taken by Christine Dobrowolski, CC BY 2.0.
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Nutritional Doublethink

Nutritional Doublethink™ is the simultaneous acceptance of two contradictory beliefs about a food, "unhealthy is healthy". This website explores these contradictions and their impact on health. The information on this website is not meant to replace the advice from your doctor or dietitian.

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  • Home
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  • Nutrition Topics
    • Nutrition Basics >
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      • Determining Intakes
      • Portion Size
      • Food Groups
    • Digestive Tract >
      • Digestion & Absorption
    • Carbohydrates >
      • Carbohydrate Digestion
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      • Foods with Sugar
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      • Glucose Regulation
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      • Cholesterol
      • Essential Fatty Acids
      • Trans Fatty Acids
      • Lipid Recommendations
    • Protein >
      • Protein Structure
      • Protein Functions
      • Protein Digestion
      • Protein Digestibility
      • Protein Recommendations
    • Vitamins >
      • Vitamin A
      • Vitamin D
      • Vitamin E
      • Vitamin K
      • Vitamin C
      • B-Vitamins
      • Vitamin B1: Thiamin
      • Vitamin B2: Riboflavin
      • Vitamin B3: Niacin
      • Vitamin B6: Pyridoxine
      • Vitamin B9: Folate
      • Vitamin B12: Cobalamin
    • Minerals >
      • Calcium
      • Sodium
      • Potassium
      • Iron