Are you confused about the difference between “Free Range" and “Pastured” eggs?

Let’s try to explain the difference

In Australia, the definition of a free range egg has now been established and the outcome has been disappointing for both producers and consumers.  The long battle over who gets to put the words free range on their egg carton, and the new 'information standard' that does not require the hens to actually go outside,  has damaged the integrity of the term to the extent that genuine free range farmers have distanced themselves and now call their eggs Pastured. 

Pastured better defines the production system that free range was originally based on and meets consumer expectations for ethically raised hens.

This is the new "Free Range"

There is no requirement for access to pasture under the new standard.  Hens that do go outside in these intensive free range systems are usually presented with a dusty and barren yard.

Pastured Eggs

The definition of a Pastured Egg is just that - eggs from chickens that are raised outdoors on open fields with access to pasture.  Pastured eggs are not 'grass fed', not in the truest sense of that term because layer hens cannot survive on grass alone.  Chickens are omnivores and that means that like you and me, they need a varied diet that consists of a nutritionally balanced feed that includes fibre, energy (carbs) and protein along with essential vitamins and minerals.

To qualify as pastured eggs…..

“All birds are raised outdoors with continuous and unconfined access to pasture throughout their life time. They are kept at a stocking intensity that will ensure forage is always available in a sustainably managed rotational grazing system”