The Eggs Your Body Craves
The average egg in the grocery store may be up to 8 weeks old by the time you buy it.
The United States is one of the only countries that promotes washing and refrigeration of eggs. This started in the early 1970s, due to USDA food safety concerns. A few other countries followed suit, including Canada, Japan, and Scandinavia.
Eggs do not need to be refrigerated!
Egg shells are very porous. They contain thousands of tiny pores that allow an embryo to exchange oxygen, carbon dioxide, and moisture.
All eggs have a natural protective layer, called a bloom. The bloom coats the eggshell with a protein and lipid rich barrier that seals the pores, keeping contaminants out and reducing moisture loss. The hen applies this coating to the egg just before it is laid and acts as a primary defense to protect a developing embryo. It also allows unwashed eggs to be stored at room temperature for many weeks.
The bloom is water-soluble. This means when you wash an egg, the protective layer is removed and eggs must be refrigerated to prevent spoilage.
In the United States, all commercially produced eggs are washed and refrigerated. First, they are washed in hot water and soap. Then, they are sprayed with a chemical sanitizer, a solution that often contains chlorine. Because egg shells are porous, some of the sanitizing agents can technically enter the shell.
Furthermore, some egg processors also apply a layer of mineral oil to the eggshell to seal it. Mineral oil is a highly processed, highly refined byproduct of petroleum, yum!
Because of this process, commercially produced eggs can be stored for a long time. The eggs you buy at the grocery store are not farm fresh.
The egg industry is sneaky and mostly inhumane. Caged, cage free, free range, organic, non-gmo, pastured, etc. are just labels with many loopholes. Most terms have little meaning behind them and the majority of chickens live a cramped, sad life devoid of natural light, space to roam, and biologically appropriate nutrition. Chickens are omnivorous foragers. They love to graze the ground, eating seeds, insects, larvae, weeds, grass, and more. Commercial chickens are primarily fed a cheap, formulated diet of corn and soybean meal, designed for fast growth and money making.
As with any animal, their nutrition and lifestyle determines the vitality of the food they produce. Sick and suffering animals pave an easy path for sick and suffering humans.
To get the healthiest, most nutritious eggs from happy chickens, find a local farm near you (or get your own chickens!). These eggs will likely be unwashed. You'll know that they are fresh, healthy, and they don’t need to be refrigerated.
