Vande Bunte Eggs
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Martin, MI |
| Website | https://vbeggs.com/ |
| Market Area | Unknown |
| Total Score | 60 |
This brand may supply Kirkland Signature Organic Eggs (Costco), Market Basket Organic Brown Eggs, Members Mark Cage-Free Organic Eggs, O-Organic Brown Eggs (Safeway), Simply Nature Organic Brown Eggs (Aldi), and has their own Vande Bunte Organic Eggs.
Brands with this rating are generally produced on industrial-scale operations that grant no meaningful outdoor access. This brand lacks transparency with both Cornucopia’s investigators and the public at large. While “greenwashing” and “humanewashing” may occur in the brand’s marketing, the information they provide is often misleading.
No producers in this category were willing to participate in Cornucopia’s research and reliable information was difficult for our investigators to find. In general, industrial-organic brands prefer to keep their practices in the dark.
If you are a customer of this brand, we encourage you contact the brand owners and ask them to participate fully in Cornucopia’s research. We always want the most accurate and up-to-date information on our scorecards, and consumers play an important role by demanding transparency from their food suppliers.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1700) | 60 | 1-egg |
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points. Ownership Structure | 0 | Unknown corporate structure; may ship eggs wholesale to store brands |
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Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in systems that benefit us all. Eggs sourced from a single operation receive the most points. Eggs of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points. Commitment to Organic Label | 0 | Likely produces organic and conventional eggs |
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Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards. Other Labels and Standards | 0 | Certified Humane (cage free) |
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Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions. Flock Size(s) | 0 | Likely over 20k flock sizes |
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The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits. Hen Housing and Exit Areas | 0 | Fixed housing likely |
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Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors. Indoor Spacing | 20 | At least 1.2 square feet |
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High scoring brands provide enough space to allow each hen to fully utilize their outdoor area, and to perform instinctive behaviors without harming the environment. Outdoor Spacing | 20 | No legitimate outdoor access guaranteed, but may have 2 square feet |
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High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round. Quality of Outdoor Access | 0 | Unknown |
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Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress. Outdoor Access Timing | 0 | Unknown |
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Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life. Enrichments | 0 | Unknown |
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Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming. Alterations | 0 | Unknown |
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Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish. Chicks and Pullets | 0 | Unknown |
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Brands that have low rates of deaths and utilize their spent hens for human consumption or similar score the highest. Deaths, Culls, and Spent Hens | 0 | Unknown |
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Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Impacts | 0 | Unknown |
| Feed Sourcing | 0 | Unknown |
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Brands that score well here go above and beyond to ensure the highest animal welfare, taking into consideration their hens’ safety and cleanliness, natural behavior, and stress levels. Animal Welfare | 20 | Basic assurances due to Certified Humane label |
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Cornucopia believes you have a right to transparency. Top brands share information with Cornucopia via a survey and cooperate with our own independent investigations. Transparency | 0 | Did not participate, lacking transparency |
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Brands do not receive points, but this information is offered for people with soy and/or gluten allergies. Soy free and/or gluten free? | Unknown | |
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Brands do not receive points, but are invited to submit the name of their Accredited Organic Certifier (suppliers may have different certifiers). Organic Certifier (non-scoring) | Supplier certifications differ | |
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Extra credit is offered for various practices that go above-and-beyond in some form. Extra Credit | 0 | None |
