Originally Posted by ironbender
As you know, Wikipedia titled that picture "Commercial cage free hens indoors", not free range.

Here is the pic Wikipedia labeled "Commercial free range hens outdoors".

[Linked Image]

That article noted the perception of higher nutritional quality in free range eggs, but the results are mixed.

There is a lower incidence of Salmonella in free range eggs, but it's still there.

Cleaning standards have improved and results in a lower incidence of Salmonella in commercial eggs, too.
I don't care what it was titled, the legal standard for "free range" on the label is essentially cage free, plus a minimum of one hour access to outdoor ground each day on natural earth (which usually translates to a small hatch being opened for them for an hour, regardless of whether they use it). That's a very low standard, and the vast majority of commercial "free range" egg producers go that far and no further in the direction of what most people imagine when they think "free range." Most imagine something like what I do.