What is the difference between organic and free range eggs?
There are specific EU regulations for each of these systems. Standards have been set for organic and ‘free range’ which stipulate among other things flock sizes, stocking densities and how many hens can share a nest. Organic standards always state that hens must have access to outside areas, however they also go further than free range standards in a number of important ways. One of the ways in which organic standards differ from ‘free range’ is that organic standards stipulate smaller flock sizes and lower stocking densities (the number of birds per square meter.) Smaller flock sizes help to ensure healthier and less stressed birds. Feather pecking is a particular problem on large units and wherever hens are crowded into small spaces. Birds can be seriously injured and even killed as a result. To prevent this, the majority of ‘free-range’ hens are beak-trimmed – a mutilation that can be painful and also prevents the hens from expressing their natural behaviour by foraging. This practi
