Saturday, October 25, 2008

What's wrong with my eggs, anyway?

Shit! I've just write a long post and deleted it accidentally!!! Oh GOD!!! Anyway, here are the bits and pieces.. T_T

Eggs are still eggs no matter how they are laid.. right?
So what's the difference between caged eggs, barn and free-range eggs, anyway?

See, as a normal human being that I am, I would relate to this scenario: when you walk into the supermarket to get some eggs, 9 out of 10 people would definitely choose the cheapest one they could get (9 normal people, 1 slightly questionable). I mean, human instinct would naturally choose what they think is the best for them, and nowadays, best = always better dollar value. Right? And what would happen would be one of these:

1. Buy the Home-Branded yummy caged eggs which taste exactly the same as the expensive ones.. at $2.69 instead of paying an extra 2-3 dollars.
2. In the case of egg-desperation momento (usually happens after 10 at night when the stock of the yummy caged eggs ran out), people would hesitantly buy the more expensive (same taste) eggs because its part of their diet.
3. In the attempt of doing number 2 above, their face would lit up when a box of yummy caged eggs suddenly appears in some other shelf (due to people trying to hide it somewhere, I suppose) --> Trust me, I am a part timer in a major supermarket. This things do happen!
4. Sometimes, I even met a few parents buying the yummy caged eggs dozen with even one or two broken eggs inside. Still better than paying the extra for nothing, huh?

Why am I even writing a lame post about eggs? Well, it started of one fine day in Sydney when I was talking to my sis. Here is how it went:

Me : "Hey, you don't need to buy any eggs for now on. I will supply you your daily egg needs from now on".
Sis :
(Hesitantly) " Ok.. "

(Silent)

Sis : " Just make sure they are not caged eggs".
Me : " Huh? What is caged eggs? Is that like a brand or something?
(Yes, I don't even know there are different kind of eggs at that point). I only bought the home brand (cheapest) ones. Good value! "
Sis : " No. Those are caged eggs. I had been buying and will only buy free range eggs".
Sis :
(Slightly horrified) " You have no idea how much the hens suffered just to laid eggs for you".
Me : ??
(but what have I done wrong? I paid for the eggs. It's not like I'm stealing the eggs right after they laid it, hello?)
Sis : " Do you know that those hens were put into those wired caged and being forced to lay eggs for you". (WHY ME again?). " They don't even have enough room to flap their wings or move. Poor things..and the eggs are even not good for the health".
Me : ....(((@_@)))....
(I am not hen, I am human.. and I paid for my eggs, know what I mean?)

Like seriously, okay, so I do love animals too, but let me set this straight.. as much as I love animals, I, too, love my dollar value too. Please, if I could get a dozen of the yummy caged eggs (EGGS ok?) for $2.69; why would I pay an extra 2-3 dollar for other well, free range or RSPCA-approved eggs or whatever they called it (still EGGS ok?) at $5.50 or $6.00. Anyone with a clear mind who loves eggs would naturally buy what they think is the best, right? And by saying that, the answer is obvious.. unless, if they tell you that caged eggs would harm your health or lead to unnatural death or something like that..Especially now, when time is hard and you have your young kids and family to feed, it does make a difference.

As for me (and my sis) who practically lives on whatever we earn, probably it's not much of a big deal.. so for the sake of trying (and stay out of argument), I would, from now on, start to TRY to buy free- range eggs.. and I will keep you update if I'd ever found any difference. *sighs*. Can't imagine me buying VIP eggs from now on..

I don't really want to argue about eggs but its just that I feel its somewhat illogical. Even if I join the fight against caged eggs and stop buying them, 90% of the world population would still buy what's economically good for them. And they would still get the same tasty yummy caged eggs. And if what they said about those yummy caged eggs being unhealthy, then why would the government still allow us to consume them? And the seller to keep selling them.. and even worse, let the caged-eggs farmer keep their job? Just a thought..

PS. You might want to check this out.. I got this from the RSPCA site:
" Preventing hens from performing these natural behaviours causes immense frustration." and "Evidence from research suggests that "battery cages cause suffering to hens in at least 7 different ways"

Well, pity the hens, but pity us too.. because eventually, assuming that eggs are still eggs no matter where or how in the world it is laid, what really matters is the value of your dollar. MMWWHa ha ha ha .... (wicked laugh echoing in the background).