Traditional Eggs May Have Lower Impact on Global Warming

Egg Industry Proves to be Greener than other Livestock

ATLANTA, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- While some animal rights organizations
have been campaigning to ban traditional cage eggs in the U.S., it turns out
that these eggs may be best for the environment.
A study conducted by Adrian Williams, PhD., senior research fellow at
Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, found that the traditional cage
egg production currently used by most U.S. egg farmers decreases the
industry's effects on global warming by 10 percent, while converting to all
free-range egg production would increase the effects on global warming by 10
percent and converting to all organic egg production would increase the
effects on global warming by 40 percent.
Free-range and organic egg farms are more environmentally intense because
their need for more green space, food and energy.
The research examined the energy and food levels for farm production on 10
different agricultural and horticultural commodities such as potatoes,
tomatoes, beef, milk, poultry, and eggs. In addition to the varying
production findings, the study found that egg production as a whole is less
harmful on the environment than other livestock. Egg production takes less
global energy thus producing less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The
study was funded by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs in
the U.K.
Grocery shoppers can find UEP Certified eggs by looking for the UEP
Certified logo on cartons of most brands of eggs, since 95 percent of the eggs
produced in the U.S. come from farmers who participate in the program. UEP
developed the United Egg Producers Certified animal welfare program
(www.uepcertified.com) to assure consumers, retailers and foodservice
professionals that egg cartons carrying the UEP Certified logo are from
farmers who adhere to the highest scientific standards for egg production and
undergo independent audits from the USDA and Validus to ensure 100 percent
compliance.
UEP developed the UEP Certified program for modern egg production out of
scientific guidelines established by an independent advisory committee of the
top animal welfare scientific experts in the U.S. The USDA, the Food and Drug
Administration and the Federal Trade Commission have approved the UEP
Certified logo. The International Egg Commission has recognized the program as
a model from which to create animal welfare programs in other member countries
throughout the world. In addition, the Food Marketing Institute and the
National Council of Chain Restaurants also endorse these guidelines. To view a
complete copy of the UEP Certified Guidelines and to learn more about the
program visit www.uepcertified.com.
SOURCE United Egg Producers

Mitch Head, +1-520-290-5993, for United Egg Producers