Natural Grocers | Egg Standards: Ours Vs. Theirs

Egg Standards: Ours Vs. Theirs

Natural Grocers ® FREE RANGE BRONZE

Natural Grocers FREE RANGE SILVER

Natural Grocers PASTURE BASED GOLD

USDA CAGE FREE

USDA FREE RANGE

*OTHER RETAILERS

STANDARD

CAGED

Cages PROHIBITED

YES But only during the laying cycle

YES But only during the laying cycle

Most other retailers sell eggs from hens kept in cages.

YES

YES

YES

NO

?

Adequate Indoor Space Minimums for Natural Behaviors REQUIRED

Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? USDA definition of free range does not specify and this is allowed. Must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer. ? Not a requirement to meet the USDA definition of free range, thus must be set as the standard by the retailer.

YES 1 ft² per hen

YES 1 ft² per hen

YES

NO NO NO

Time Spent Outdoors REQUIRED

NO Only access to the outdoors during the laying cycle

YES

YES

YES

NO NO

Adequate Outdoor Space Provided Per Hen REQUIRED

YES 2 ft 2 per hen when 100% are outside

YES 20 ft 2 per hen when 100% are outside

YES 108 ft 2 per hen when 100% are outside

NO NO NO

Screened Enclosure with Concrete Floor Counted as Outdoor Space PROHIBITED

YES

YES

YES

NO NO NO

Enriched Spaces to Support and Encourage Natural Behaviors REQUIRED

YES

YES

YES

NO NO NO

Perches and Nest Boxes REQUIRED

YES

YES

YES

NO NO NO

Forced Starvation and Molting PROHIBITED

YES

YES

YES

NO NO NO

Mammalian or Avian By-Products in Feed PROHIBITED

YES

YES

YES

NO NO NO

Cloned Animals PROHIBITED

YES

YES

YES

NO NO NO