Free…to Be Filled with Pollutants

(PHOTO: Arahsae)

A Taiwanese study suggests that free-range eggs may contain many times the levels of toxins, such as the dioxins produced by burning trash, than regular eggs—and may therefore be unhealthier for us. The researchers’ explanation for this is that letting hens out of their cages gives them access to delicious soil, plants, worms, and insects that we have horribly polluted. What goes around comes around.

While this is interesting and important work, it’s a pity it’s been spun (at least in the press release, linked below) as a reason to be concerned about the safety of eating free-range eggs, rather than a story about how pervasive—and well traveled—these toxins are in urbanized Taiwan.

Here’s the press release, and here’s the full paper.