5 Myths About Live Exports From the UK, Debunked
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Animals
Cage-free vs pasture-raised
Cage-free and pasture-raised sound like they describe the same thing. They do not. One is a floor-space claim inside a barn; the other is an outdoor-access claim with real land requirements. Knowing which is which changes what your money supports.
Side by side
| Criterion | Cage-free | Pasture-raised |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Indoor barn, no cages, but often very high stocking density. | Genuine outdoor range with a specified land allowance per bird. |
| Verification | Often self-declared or lightly audited depending on jurisdiction. | Usually tied to a third-party certifier with site inspections. |
| Beak trimming | Commonly permitted. | Restricted or prohibited under stricter certifications. |
| Male chicks and end of lay | Unchanged. | Unchanged unless the producer uses in-ovo sexing. |
Questions people ask
- Is cage-free the same as free-range?
- No. Cage-free only means the hens are not in cages — it says nothing about outdoor access, which is what free-range and pasture-raised labels address.
- What is humane-washing?
- Marketing language — 'natural', 'farm fresh', 'family farm' — that implies welfare standards without being tied to any audited requirement.
Our reporting on this
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