The real story behind Canadian eggs

By Roger Pelissero, Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada.

The food we share with friends and serve to our families is something that matters deeply. Like you, I want to feel confident about the food I'm eating. As a Canadian egg farmer, I feel a strong responsibility to earn that trust every day through transparency, accountability, and a commitment to always levelling up.

I'm not alone in that thinking. For myself and my fellow 1,295 egg farmers across the country, producing high-quality eggs that Canadians can count on is not just a job; it is a passion, a collective responsibility, and a promise.

That promise begins with animal care.

As egg farmers, caring for our hens is at the heart of what we do. We monitor their health and behaviour every day and pay close attention to how much they drink and what they eat. For me, this information is essential for understanding how my hens are doing, ensuring they have what they need.

This commitment is reinforced by the rigorous national standards for animal care and food safety Canadian egg farmers are required to follow. These standards are grounded in science and set clear expectations for how hens are housed, monitored, handled, and cared for, supporting their health and welfare and allowing farmers to deliver the safe, high-quality eggs Canadians want.

For third-generation egg farmer, Roger Pelissero, accountability is central to his farming operation and the commitment he has to producing high-quality Canadian eggs. 

There is also the question of choice.

Canadians can choose from different kinds of eggs at the store. That's because Canadian egg farmers raise hens in a variety of ways, including enriched colony housing, free run and free range systems, so that we have access to a variety of eggs at different price points, reflecting diverse preferences. This said, high standards of animal care and food safety must be met by all regulated Canadian egg farmers, no matter the type of hen housing on their farm. 

Accountability is central to the work we do. By that, I mean all egg farmers are subject to regular inspections and third-party audits to verify that they meet mandatory animal care and food safety standards. 

At the same time, egg farming continues to evolve.

Constantly raising the bar has always been central to how Canadian egg farmers such as myself operate. The animal care programs and practices we all follow evolve as scientific research progresses. Experts — including veterinarians, researchers and other specialists — contribute their knowledge and expertise to help strengthen these programs over time.

Finally, we take people's curiosity about their food seriously.

Canadians are interested in learning about how their food is produced, and as an egg farmer, I'm proud to share that story. Like many of my fellow egg farmers, I like answering questions and showing people the care and dedication that go into producing eggs every day. By having these conversations, we reinforce people’s confidence in the food they bring home to share with their friends and family, and in the very farmers — like me — who work year-round to produce high-quality Canadian eggs we can all count on.

About Roger Pelissero

Roger Pelissero is a third-generation egg farmer from Ontario and Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada.

Visit eggfarmers.ca to learn more about the care and commitment behind Canadian egg farming.