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Formaldehyde is commonly used to disinfect eggs.  Despite being a toxic chemical, profit-driven producers use formaldehyde to fumigate eggs because it’s a cheap way to minimize bacteria.  Formaldehyde has been linked to cancer and other serious health issues, so I decided many years ago that it had no business near my eggs or team members.  We use NO formaldehyde in our operations.

We believe that chicks need a healthy start to life, including during embryotic development while in the egg.  Our eggs are disinfected with an organic approved, vinegar-based solution.  That’s all you need.  Freshly laid eggs have a natural, anti-bacterial coating on them called the bloom that keeps bacteria from entering.  If you minimize bacteria in the first place by keeping nesting boxes at the breeder farms clean, limit your handling of the eggs and don’t expose them to harmful chemicals or other foreign materials, your eggs will remain clean and safe.

It’s like antibiotics.  Producers who don’t take the necessary steps to keep chicken houses clean and stress free need antibiotics for sick chickens.  We eliminated unnecessary substances – antibiotics, formaldehyde – by maintaining higher standards in all areas of our operations.

Comments

  1. Sandra H. says:

    This is yet another reason why I buy only Bell & Evans chicken. I also ask if Bell & Evans is served when I eat at restaurants. If not, I do not order chicken. I love how you care for your chickens right from the embryo to open air and free range. I only buy B & E frozen chicken nuggets for my grandchildren as well. I know they are eating with no preservatives or antibiotics.

    1. Thank you for being a loyal Bell & Evans fan, Sandra. Send your name and mailing address to [email protected] and we’ll get you some coupons for some Bell & Evans Chicken Nuggets!

  2. Kathy says:

    I never thought of the eggs, how do I find out if formaldehyde is used on eggs I but at the grocery stores. I always use Eggland’s Best, thinking they’re the best???

    1. Kathy – Table eggs are washed and sanitized prior to sale, but we can’t confirm what the egg producers use. We recommend you contact them directly for more specific information. Thanks for reaching out.

  3. Cristian says:

    What do you do about the naturally occurring formaldehyde within eggs as well as many fruits and vegetables such as bananas, spinach, and apples?

    1. Hi Cristian, Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance in living organisms (just like fats, acids, nitrates and yes, even antibiotics!) and there is not much we can do to eliminate it. The key is that we do not use the known toxic chemical to fumigate or disinfect our eggs prior to incubation, even though it is an common industry practice in the United States. Formaldehyde is linked to adverse health effects and is classified as a pollutant by the EPA. We don’t want to unnecessarily expose our chickens or team members to it, especially when there are better, organic options available.

  4. Stacey C. says:

    THANK YOU for your commitment to the health and well being of your chickens, your consumers, and your employees!! I have been on a mission to eliminate ALL sources of formaldehyde in my body and on my body, and not knowing but trusting my intuition, i had the notion that eggs contained formaldehyde, so i looked it up and low and behold found your article!
    I am GRATEFUL for integral business owners like yourselves, ill be sure to share this information publically!

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