Free-range is a term applied to animal-based food products, such as eggs, dairy and meat. This term refers to the way animals are farmed and housed. “Free-range animals are animals that have some access to the outdoors.
Full Answer
What is free-free range?
Free range denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals, for at least part of the day, can roam freely outdoors, rather than being confined in an enclosure for 24 hours each day.
Are free range chickens really free range?
Right: Chicken and eggs labeled “free range” do not necessarily come from birds that ranged freely outdoors. For chickens used in the production of poultry and eggs, outdoor runs and pasture offer them the opportunity to forage, which is an important natural behavior.
What is free-range farming?
Free range may apply to meat, eggs or dairy farming. The term is used in two senses that do not overlap completely: as a farmer-centric description of husbandry methods, and as a consumer-centric description of them. There is a diet where the practitioner only eats meat from free-range sources called ethical omnivorism .
What is free range dairy and how does it work?
Unlike hens, there are no EU laws governing free range dairy farming. So, Free Range Dairy has established a simple set of standards for producers, to provide consumers with a clear assurance that they are buying milk from cows that enjoy the freedom to graze.
What are the products that are free range?
Eggs are the most commonly known free-range product, but free-range poultry, bacon and ham are also available from supermarkets, butchers and organic outlets nationwide. The criteria for a bird or animal to be described as 'free-range' is that they are allowed to roam free in pastures grazing on green vegetation.
What does it mean when something is free range?
The term "free range" refers to food from animals that have access to outdoor spaces. It can also refer to animals who have free access to graze or forage for food.
Does free range really mean free range?
Free-range, another USDA term, means that the eggs come from hens that have some sort of access to the outdoors. However, it doesn't mean that the hens actually go outdoors, or that the outdoor space is more than a small, fenced-in area; it simply implies that a door exists that a farmer could at some point open.
Does free range mean organic?
Under the regulatory language, all organic chickens are raised under generic free-range conditions. However, free-range chicken does not necessarily qualify as an organic food product.
What is another word for free-range?
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Is all milk free-range?
Herding the Facts – Why We Shouldn't Assume All Our Dairy Is Free Range. According to Free Range Dairy organisation, 15-20% of dairy cows spend their entire time confined to the indoors. The rest are on farms that graze their herds daily during the warmer months.
Does organic chicken mean free-range?
Not all free range chicken is organic (chickens could be raised with access to the outdoors but not under any of the other criteria needed to be certified organic), but all organic chicken is free range (in order to receive organic certification, chickens must have access to the outdoors, among other criteria).
Is free range chicken healthy?
Free-range chickens are among the healthiest and happiest of chickens, and they produce amazingly nutritious eggs. Plus, they have no rivals when it comes to simplicity. The term “free-range” describes a method of farming that allows animals to roam free outdoors.
Are Costco eggs free-range?
{Cage Free vs Free Range} My local Costco has two types of eggs for sale that vary greatly in price. The less expensive type is the Large Grade AA Cage Free Eggs and the more expensive type is the Organic Large Grade A Free Range Eggs.
Is organic or free-range better?
Overall, organically raised hens offer the highest potential standard of animal welfare, making them the most ethical egg option available. Organic eggs are also the most nutritional egg option available.
Are all organic eggs free-range?
Finally, be aware that free-range eggs aren't necessarily the same as organic—the USDA requires that free-range eggs come from chickens that have some access to a small, fenced patch of cement (which they may or may not use).
Are eggs really organic?
What It Actually Means: "Organic" actually means something very specific, and egg producers who use it are subject to USDA regulation. Organic eggs must come from chickens that are free-range (cage-free plus access to the outdoors), fed organic feed (no synthetic pesticides) and receive no hormones or antibiotics.
Is free range chicken healthy?
Free-range chickens are among the healthiest and happiest of chickens, and they produce amazingly nutritious eggs. Plus, they have no rivals when it comes to simplicity. The term “free-range” describes a method of farming that allows animals to roam free outdoors.
Are free-range eggs better?
Hens raised in free-range environments have a much better quality of life. They can go outside and can engage in natural behaviors, such as dust-bathing, walking, and foraging. Birds who live in cages in large flocks can be vulnerable to disease or getting trapped in between wires.
Do free-range chickens taste better?
It's true! Free-range chickens are happier, healthier chickens, so they produce tastier meat. Some believe this is due to lower cortisol levels, which can toughen up meat, or to increased exercise that better develops their muscles, creating a juicier texture.
Are free range animals treated better?
Relatively speaking, free-range animals experience less harm than do factory-farmed animals. It's on this point that the vast majority of concerned consumers who choose free-range meat rest their case; if we're content to think in these relative terms, there's really not much to argue about.
What additional information tells you the claim has been verified?
For beef, chicken and eggs from animals that were able to range freely outdoors, look for these labels:
What is the FSIS labeling agency?
Poultry and beef: On poultry and beef, the labeling claim is verified by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. FSIS staff performs a review of a one-time application and supporting documentation supplied by the company making the claim. The agency has not defined “free range,” and requires only that “producers must demonstrate . . . that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside.”
How many acres of pasture do laying hens have?
If the words “pastured” or “pasture-based” appear on an egg carton label along with the American Humane Certified seal, it means that the laying hens were given at least a total of 2.5 acres of pasture per 1,000 hens, which means 108.9 square feet per bird or 10.9 feet by 10 feet.
What does "free range" mean?
What Does Free Range Really Mean? 1 On-farm inspection is not required 2 There is no common standard that producers have to meet for eggs and dairy 3 A “free range” claim does not mean that the chickens were able to range freely outdoors
How long do laying hens stay outside?
If the words “free range” appear on an egg carton label along with the American Humane Certified seal, it means that the laying hens were given access to an outdoor area for at least 8 hours per day, weather permitting.
How much ground cover do chickens need?
The minimum amount of uncovered outdoor area required per hen is 2 square feet, which is roughly 17 by 17 inches.
What does it mean when a beef label says "free access to the outdoors"?
On labels of beef products: The labeling claim means that the animals were given free access to the outdoors for a minimum of 120 days per year. There are no space requirements, and no requirements for the condition of the outdoor space. The claim does not mean that the animals only grazed on range.
Why is free range important?
The reason for this is we all value freedom and most want to make more ethical choices when buying food.
Why are free range hens shut in at night?
Free range hens are usually shut in at night to protect them from predators and their natural instinct is to roost. Although on some farms free range hens may eat some grass and other plants their diet is largely based on cereals fed inside. The maximum flock size under British Lion egg standards is 16,000 hens.
Is free range dairy legal in the EU?
Unlike hens, there are no EU laws governing free range dairy farming. So, Free Range Dairy has established a simple set of standards for producers, to provide consumers with a clear assurance that they are buying milk from cows that enjoy the freedom to graze.
How much space does a chicken need to be free range?
This label requires at least 2 square feet (about 0.2 square meters) of outdoor space per bird with vegetation for grazing.
Is there a free range label on chicken?
Despite what you may envision, the free-range label on chicken products can be misleading as there are currently no regulations for what “outdoor access” must include.
Is it better to raise chickens free range or conventional?
In theory, raising free-range chickens is better for both the chickens and the consumers, compared with conventionally raised chickens. Conventionally raised chickens are kept inside, oftentimes in cages without access to the outdoors, and usually fed a grain diet fortified with vitamins and minerals ( 8. Trusted Source.
Does the USDA regulate free range chickens?
Unlimited outdoor access has been shown to improve the welfare and nutritional content of chickens, but as the USDA currently doesn’t regulate the type of outdoor access required, these benefits likely don’t apply to all free-range chicken.
Do chickens have to be outside to be free range?
However, the regulation doesn’t specify how large the outdoor area needs to be or how long the chickens must have access to it.
What is UEP label?
United Egg Producers (UEP) uses a label that reads, “United Egg Producers Certified.” 17 This program is also not regulated nor enforced, and investigations have proved that companies using this label do not treat chickens any differently than conventional farms do. What You Can Do.
What is free range animal?
Most “free-range” animals are still mutilated and forced to endure long trips to slaughterhouses without any food or water. Moreover, they all have their lives violently cut short and are denied the opportunity to engage in anything that is natural and important to them. ‘Free-Range’. Companies want consumers to believe ...
Do free range chickens have to be outside?
The USDA requires that “free-range” animals have access to outdoor areas, but there is no provision for how much time they must be allowed to spend outside or how much room they must be provided with to do so. USDA’s regulations only require the birds have “been allowed access to the outside.” 2 Even if a farmer opened the door to a coop with thousands of birds inside and then closed it before any chickens went outside, he would still be able to use the “free-range” label. 3
Is egg carton organic?
Labels—other than “organic”—on egg cartons are not subject to any government regulations, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not regulate “free-range” or “free-roaming” claims for beef products. 1. The USDA requires that “free-range” animals have access to outdoor areas, but there is no provision for how much time they must be ...
Can pork products be tagged with hormones?
Because hormones are not supposed to be given to pigs or chickens, pork and poultry products cannot legally be tagged with this label without the disclaimer “Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.” 14.
Is there more than a million hens in a barn?
11 Peter Whorisky, “More Than A Million Hens, Filling Barns at Three Per Square Foot. And Yes, They’re USDA Organic,” The Washington Post ,” 13 July 2017.
Do chickens like open fields?
The study stated that “chickens prefer ranging areas with trees [and] they avoid bright sun” and that “ [a] wide open field is simply not a preferred habitat.”. The researchers explained that domesticated chickens, much like their wild ancestors, need a habitat that provides shelter from wind, sun, and predators and that free-range operations ...
The Story
It starts with a college dropout, a suppressed creative energy, and life mission that needed realization. While failing school, Tosch Roy discovered his ticket to freedom in the form of a sketchy-looking pack that he designed for a skimo race. Game on.
The Packtory
Welcome to the production floor, design studio, brand office, and source of good juju - in a garage. All of our packs are designed and manufactured at the foot of the Cascade Range in Bend, OR.
The Yahoos
One thing we’ve learned for sure: it takes a community to bring a vision to life. Meet the kickass team of fabric wrastlers, gear snobs, and general shenanigan-makers who keep the stoke alive at Free Range Equipment.
What is free range farming?
Free range denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals, for at least part of the day, can roam freely outdoors, rather than being confined in an enclosure for 24 hours each day.
What is free range behavioral?
A behavioral definition of free range is perhaps the most useful: "chickens kept with a fence that restricts their movements very little." This has practical implications. For example, according to Jull, "The most effective measure of preventing cannibalism seems to be to give the birds good grass range." De-beaking was invented to prevent cannibalism for birds not on free range, and the need for de-beaking can be seen as a litmus test for whether the chickens' environment is sufficiently "free-range-like."
What is pastured poultry?
" Pastured poultry " is a term promoted by farmer/author Joel Salatin for broiler chickens raised on grass pasture for all of their lives except for the initial brooding period.
How long do cows graze in free range?
Farms supplying milk under the free range dairy brand abide by the pasture promise, meaning the cows will have access to pasture land to graze for a minimum of 180 days and nights a year. There is evidence to suggest that milk from grass contains higher levels of fats such as omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
How old do chickens have to be to be free range?
Free-range broiler systems use slower-growing breeds of chicken to improve welfare, meaning they reach slaughter weight at 16 weeks of age rather than 5–6 weeks of age in standard rearing systems. Turkeys: Free-range turkeys have continuous access to an outdoor range during the daytime.
Why are free range products a third party trade mark?
Australian standards in relation to free-range production are largely espoused in third-party certification trade marks due to the absence of any significant legally binding legislation. A number of certification bodies are utilised by rearers to identify their products with a particular level of animal welfare standards. In events where producers do not choose to use a certified trade mark and merely state that their product is 'free range', the producer is bound by consumer expectations and perceptions of what constitutes free range. Producers are generally thought to be bound to Model Codes of Practice of Animal Welfare published by the CSIRO, and in some states this forms part of legislation.
Why should turkeys be free range?
The range should be largely covered in vegetation and allow more space. Access to fresh air and daylight means better eye and respiratory health. The turkeys are able to exercise and exhibit natural behaviour resulting in stronger, healthier legs. Free-range systems often use slower-growing breeds of turkey.
What does cage-free mean?
In the case of egg-laying hens, cage-free is regulated by the USDA, but remains an incredibly vague term: the USDA doesn’t offer any specifications for space allotted to each hen, and doesn’t include any requirements for access to natural sunlight via windows or other types of openings. Cage-free hens have the ability to move vertically (to an extent, especially in factory-like cage-free warehouses with multiple levels) and horizontally in their indoor living spaces. According to an independent committee assembled by United Egg Producers, 95% of all U.S. egg production came from caged hens in 1995. And although that number is on the decline today with the popularity of cage-free egg production on the rise, the lack of outdoor access and cramped conditions found on many cage-free factory farms makes the term itself much less positive and consequential than it sounds. In short, when you see the cage-free label in the egg aisle, here’s what it might mean for the hens that laid those eggs:
What does free range mean?
All Pete and Gerry’s partner farmers follow the Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) Certified Humane Free Range standards, which are arguably the highest and most transparent of their kind. On our farms, being free range means that during most times of the day and year (except during inclement weather and when predators are spotted in the area), our hens are free to roam outside as they please. Our free range hens have a minimum of 2 square feet per hen of pasture, and that’s an average for every hen in the flock. It's very rare for the entire flock to choose to be outside at any one time during the day; most of them prefer the shade, water, feed, or social opportunities inside the barn, so the girls that feel like venturing out usually have a vast expanse of a field all to themselves to explore. When you pick up a carton of Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs, know that the hens that laid them enjoyed:
What about pasture-raised?
While there are no USDA standards supporting the term, responsible producers are providing the hens with grass pasture to forage on, just like free range. The debate comes in with respect to how much space is “enough” for hens. Some folks who produce under the “pasture raised” term offer even more average space than free range producers do, but that space does not come free and is often reflected in the price of those eggs on the shelf. The term also doesn’t guarantee that the pastures and chicken feed available to the hens are free from GMOs and harmful pesticides; only the USDA Certified Organic seal does. From a sustainability standpoint, free range is the most earth-friendly and economical option; we think that we’ve found the right balance with Certified Humane Free Range for our hens, farmers, and consumers alike.
What is the difference between cage free and free range hens?
The most significant difference between eggs from cage-free and free range hens is outdoor access. Put simply, free range hens have it, while cage-free hens don’t. But with outdoor access come so many other benefits to hens—most notably, the ability to display their natural behaviors.
Mutilation
Most “free-range” animals are still mutilated, including by having their sensitive beaks, tails, ears, and horns cut or burned off—all without painkillers.
Severe Crowding
Companies want consumers to believe that products labeled “free-range” or “free-roaming” are derived from animals who spent their short lives outdoors, enjoying sunshine, fresh air, and the company of other animals. Labels (other than “organic”) on egg cartons are not subject to any government regulations, and the U.S.
Killing Mother Hens
After two years spent in hellish conditions, hens used for eggs are exhausted and their egg production drops. These “spent” hens are shipped to slaughterhouses, where their fragile legs are forced into shackles and their throats are cut.
Baby Chicks Are Ground Up Alive
Even on so-called “humane” egg farms, male chicks are deemed useless because they can’t produce eggs. The egg industry’s solution? Toss millions of them into trash bags to suffocate or throw them into high-speed grinders called “macerators” to be torn apart while they’re still alive.
What You Can Do to Help
Because there are so many different labels with inconsistent definitions and regulations, it’s difficult to determine which products are the most “humane.” Since none of the labels applies to transport or slaughter and none prohibits bodily mutilations such as debeaking, tail-docking, ear-notching, and dehorning, the worst cruelty continues to be completely unregulated..
What This Claim Means
Why It Matters
- For chickens used in the production of poultry and eggs, outdoor runs and pasture offer them the opportunity to forage, which is an important natural behavior. When given the opportunity, chickens will spend a majority of their active time foraging, which consists of pecking, scratching, harvesting seeds, and eating insects. When chickens are unable to engage in natural foraging b…
How Meaningful Is The Label?
- On meat and poultry labels, the USDA does not have a common standard for producers making a “free range” claim. Producers making a “free range” labeling claim are required to add an explanation of the term on the label, but the USDA allows producers to write the explanation and therefore define the term. In our 2016 survey, when consumers were told...
Is The Claim verified?
- Sometimes. Eggs. Labels on egg cartons are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and do not need prior approval by the agency. The FDA requires that food labels be truthful and not misleading, but the FDA has no regulatory definition of “free range” on egg carton labels. Egg producers can choose to have their eggs graded, or inspected for quality by USDA inspecto…
What Additional Information Tells You The Claim Has Been verified?
- For beef, chicken and eggs from animals that were able to range freely outdoors, look for these labels: American Grassfed The American Grassfed label means that the animals were grass-fed throughout their entire lives (after weaning), with no grain ever. The animals had continuous access to pasture and were not raised in confinement. The label is highly meaningful and verifie…