Certified Organic, Pasture-raised Free Range Eggs at Organika

When an egg is organic, it refers to a few things: how much space a hen has to roam, how many hens are kept in one space, what food they eat, and how their health conditions are treated.

Let’s start with space. For an egg to be considered organic, the hens that lay them must be given ample space to roam during the day and a safe, secure place to sleep during the night and to lay eggs.

They must also be fed an organic diet. This includes any grain mixes they’re given and any paddocks they roam in. That means no pesticides, un-organic fertilizers or other chemicals can be used in their pastures (which also makes organic eggs GMO-free eggs and chemical-free eggs).

Lastly, if a hen gets unwell, it should only be given antibiotics or vaccinations if other more natural remedies haven’t worked. 

If antibiotics are required, they must be separated from the other hens until they are nursed back to health and no longer have antibiotics present in their body. 

Once they are free from antibiotics, their eggs will be able to be collected again as they’ll be classified as ‘antibiotic-free eggs’ and ‘hormone-free eggs’ again.

The best way to look out for certified organic eggs is by checking the egg packaging or farm website for an organic certification.

If you look on a farm’s website, you’ll also be able to find its accreditation number; this helps confirm that the accreditation is still valid and can give you an indication of what they are certified for.

The most common accreditation body in Australia is the ACO, or ‘Australian Certified Organic’, whose logo you may already recognise.

Other accreditation bodies like Organic Food Chain are also suitable too, just less common.

Have you wondered what the difference is between organic eggs and free-range eggs? While there is a lot of overlap between the two, there are a few distinct differences.

For starters, all organic eggs are also free range, but not all free-range eggs can be classified as organic. 

For an egg to be free range, the hen that lays it must have roaming space during the day, and a safe place to sleep, lay eggs and brood during the night. 

For a free-range egg to be classified as organic, the hen must be fed an organic diet too.

Generally, hens that produce organic eggs are given more space to roam than free-range hens (so there are fewer hens in one space), and they are given pastures to wander through. These pastures are free from herbicides, non-organic fertilisers and pesticides. 

If a hen has access to organic, lush pastures with plenty of insects and fresh foliage to peck at, the eggs they produce can be considered ‘pasture-raised eggs’, and the hens can be classified as ‘grass-fed chickens’.

Like many animal products and food types, eating raw or partially cooked eggs may include a small risk of contracting salmonella and other foodborne bacteria.

When eggs are fully cooked through, they are 100% safe to eat as any foodborne bacteria is killed in the cooking process.

But, some people prefer to choose pasteurised eggs. Not to be mistaken for pasture-raised eggs, pasteurisation refers to heating eggs gently in their shells to remove any foodborne bacteria before it gets to people’s kitchens.

Not all eggs available in Australia are pasteurised, and organic eggs are generally not pasteurised; it all comes down to the individual farm they’re sourced from and the practices they use.

Certified organic eggs ensure the well-being of hens is maintained and that they are cared for appropriately. This may eliminate some factors contributing to the contamination of eggs with salmonella and ensures the production of safe eggs.

Free-range organic eggs and pasture-fed eggs are the most ethical and sustainable choices for you to choose from.

The farming practices that come with raising organic and pasture-fed eggs are more sustainable, upholding animal rights and animal welfare in comparison to caged hen farming.

If you’re looking to purchase the most ethical, sustainable eggs possible, we recommend pruchasing eggs from small-scale, local, regenerative farmers who are transparent about their local farming practices.

At Organika, we only stock ethical, local farms committed to upholding animal welfare and producing natural, sustainable eggs.

To learn more about how we choose the local farmers we stock, contact us today.

Organic eggs are better for you for a number of reasons: they’re more nutritionally dense, they are hormone and chemical free, and they’re better for the environment.

Hens who enjoy a good quality of life and have access to a versatile range of food choices produce healthier eggs. It’s simple: healthy eggs come from healthy hens. 

Organic and pasture-raised hens are given a diet with a high nutritional value which in turn produces nutritionally dense eggs. 

Food sources like insects, flaxseeds and whole grains provide hens with all the necessary vitamins and nutrients they need to nourish themselves and produce wholesome eggs. 

Organic hens also produce chemical-free eggs. No hormones, pesticides, antibiotics or other chemicals will find their way into your morning staple, which can’t be said for non-organic caged eggs.

And lastly, organic eggs are more sustainable, making them the more ethical option. 

Whether or not organic eggs are worth it for you and your family depends on what you deem valuable and a priority.

If animal rights is close to your heart and animal well-being is important to you, then organic eggs can be the best option when you’re looking to purchase eggs.

If you value organic, nutritionally dense eggs, and wish to support local farmers who utilise ethical practices, then organic eggs are equally worth it.