Where to Buy Ethical Eggs in Canada

Many food-conscious Canadians pay attention to the food they’re buying, whether it’s healthy or not, whether there’s a better price at competitors, like checking prices from weekly flyers, or whether to stock up on best buys and so on. Grocery shopping for the health and cost-conscious Canadian can be daunting, of course, and the task only gets more difficult if you care about animal welfare. 

But you know that when you are buying cruelty-free products, you are doing well to animals worldwide, whether it’s buying cosmetics and personal care items that aren’t tested on animals or foods ethically sourced. So, daunting as the task is, you know ethical eating is worth it.

The thing about ethical eggs

There are so many types of eggs on the market nowadays that it really only makes it more confusing for shoppers to discern between ethical eggs and conventional eggs. Free range, pasture-raised, organic eggs – these are common labels that are supposed to tell you exactly what you are eating and how ethical your food.

The various approaches to egg labeling started when more people grew aware of battery hens. The inhumane treatment applied to chickens in factory farming that are raised for eggs and meat at such a large scale behooved many shoppers to adopt ethics of eating for a better world. People demanded more ethical choices and the egg industry provided. But not all ethical eggs are produced equally.
In Canada, as in most of the other countries in the world, over 90% of all eggs come from battery-confined hens. The rest are cage-free, free-run, free-range or organic eggs, so 10% of all egg production in Canada is more ethical than the counterpart. But more ethical isn’t 100% ethical, and more ethical options don’t necessarily favor the birds so much.

- Cage-free eggs – hens are not confined to battery cages, but they have no access to outdoor space, and can be fed hormones and given medication with consequences on the well being of the bird and the egg quality.
- Free-run eggs – hens are usually housed in concrete walls and flooring facilities where they are free to move around, but there is no access to the great outdoors and overcrowding can still be an issue.
- Free-range eggs: hens have some access to the great outdoors, but there are no regulations concerning the amount of time they spend outside or the quality of that time.
- Organic eggs: hens are provided with tolerable living conditions including access to the outdoors, and in addition they are fed organic feed.

Where to buy ethical eggs
The best places in Canada to buy ethical eggs are local farmers. In grocery stores, the best options are certified organic eggs.
Sourcing organic eggs or eggs from local farmers is a great way to make sure the eggs you buy were produced with as little impact to the environment as possible and that animals were treated ethically in the process. Because many terms in egg labeling are nothing but marketing strategies, buying local probably remains the best option since consumers may have a better chance of exploring the source and see for themselves how the eggs are produced.

Lobsters - What you need to know

Yes, Lobsters Really Are Healthy Food

Even though lobsters carry microbes in their flesh that tend to multiply once the crustacean is dead, they are still healthy food, not to mention they are also quite tasty.

People who want to reduce the risk of food poisoning considerably often cook lobsters alive, this being a highly practiced method, probably the most popular. But those who are sensitive to lobsters feeling pain choose a slightly more humane option.

In Canada and the US many supermarkets sell lobsters and the prices may vary from store to store. Offers are available in the No Frills Weekly Flyer Sales or in other supermarket weekly specials.

General nutrition and health benefits of eating lobster

One cup of stir-fry cooked lobster meat contains 129 calories, 28 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat and 0 carbohydrates.

The protein intake represents 16% of the daily recommended value. Lobster also contains 2% of the daily recommended Vitamin A value, 7% daily recommended calcium value and 2% daily recommended iron value. It is rich in copper and selenium and provides a decent amount of magnesium, vitamin E, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin B12.

Three main benefits attributed to eating lobster meat:

 

- Energy boost: the high protein concentration in lobster is ideal for children in the growth stage, but as well for people who are on a diet. Because it is rich in protein but low in fat lobster keeps you feeling fuller for longer and gives a generous boost to your energy levels.
- Positive brain activity: The omega 3 and the sea protein in lobsters interact to stimulate brain cell development, including supporting the formation of new cells. In addition, the content of minerals and vitamins support proper functioning of the nervous system while the level of choline found in lobsters provide protection from neurodegenerative diseases.
- Bone strength: The calcium and phosphorus levels help prevent various bone diseases to which many people are susceptible into their old age. Eating lobster on a regular basis is one way to prevent the development of frail bones and diseases such as osteoporosis, for example.

Lobsters have very tasty meat and a soft texture that appeal to most people, especially those who enjoy seafood and shellfish. While quite healthy, people with health problems such as cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure should avoid lobster or at least eat it in moderation.