Cage-Free

Most of us students conduct a majority of our grocery shopping at the local Kroger. I cook for myself often, therefore I find myself at the store about once a week. I face the common battle of wanting to buy high quality organic food, but at the same time not breaking the bank. I have settled with the Kroger Simple Truth product line, organic, healthy, and affordable (or so I thought). 

Many of you will recognize the label: 

The labels commonly have very earthy color schemes, fonts and images, utilizing words such as "all-natural" "no additives" "cage-free" "humanely raised," you get the point. Well recently it came to my attention that none of these labeling techniques need to buy monitored or approved by the FDA. The product line is also scattered throughout the store, strategically placed next to competitors' items. Unfortunately  for all the other organic brands, they must remain in their confined "healthy section" of each Kroger store. Lastly,  there are actually two different product lines: Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic, however, there is barely ANY of a difference in labeling. This leaves room for Kroger to manipulate their customers and make some big money. 


Notice the difference?

So basically you might be paying a premium price of around $3.00 for Simple Truth eggs, thinking they are organic, when they are actually raised and produced the same exact way as the rest of the generic Kroger brand eggs from Perdue chicken farms, which a fraction of the price cheaper. The actual Simple Truth Organic eggs go for around $4.00, which are the ones I purchase because I know they are regulated and certified organic by the FDA. 

In the past year, Kroger faced a lawsuit claiming it deceived consumers by marketing a store brand as humanely raised chicken products when the animals were raised under standard commercial farming. The “Simple Truth” chicken products were packaged with labeling that stated the animals were raised “in a humane environment” and “cage free,” according to the lawsuit. However, standard industry practice for broiler chickens is to house them inside large buildings, not cages, according to industry experts. The “Simple Truth” chicken products are produced by Perdue Farms-- infamous for the horrific raising practices and abundant use of hormones and drugs pumped into their chicken feed. 


I believe that all animals should be treated humanely while being raised for consumption, not just because I am an animal lover, but poor condition on farms and the antibiotics, hormones, etc. that are fed to cows/pigs/chickens are actually very detrimental to our health and contain immense lack of nutritional value. Furthermore, Kroger should not be allowed to manipulate the trust of their customers for their personal gain. Pay attention next time you're near those green circles. Honestly, if it's not Simple Truth Organic, purchasing the basic Simple Truth line isn't worth your money. 


If your stomach can bare it here is a very concerning article about factory meat: http://www.rollingstone.com/feature/belly-beast-meat-factory-farms-animal-activists