So About Those Recalls...

With more than half a billion eggs recalled and now a new recall on deli meats sold at Wal-Mart, I'm particularly glad to know my farmers. Knowing the people who grow the produce, raise the animals and bake the foods that I buy at market provides me with an extra sense of security when I hear about these recalls. Clearly the FDA is simply ill-equipped to make all the necessary inspections, and the massive industrialization of our food supply continues to compromise food safety.

While I recognize illnesses can come at any time from any farm, the likelihood is so much less from small, sustainably managed farms. In this article, well-known farmer Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms discusses the conditions of so-called "factory farms" are breeding grounds for disaster. Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat, points out that the huge centralization of egg-producing farms compounds the risk. Nestle said about these large producers, "...if there’s a problem, it’s going to get magnified over many states and many people.” Salatin agrees, saying that “Whereas a problem in the local food system only affects a few people, a problem in a factory farm can infect, for instance, hundreds of millions of eggs and tens of thousands of people.”

When you factor in the nutritional value of the eggs, those from sustainably raised chickens and sold at farmers' markets are so much better for you. According to the Sustainable Table, "eggs from poultry raised on pasture have 10% less fat, 40% more vitamin A and 400% more omega-3s." That gets my attention!

Yes, the eggs are market cost more than those in nearby grocery stores, but for the flavor, my own health, the good of the environment and the animals, that expense is worth it to me. If you want to know more about eggs (everything from fun facts to storage to washing them), check out this article.