Claims About Angel Acres Eggs Addressed

There have been several claims circulating online recently about our Angel Acres eggs, and after receiving many emails requesting clarification, I wanted to address a few inaccuracies directly and provide clear information about our egg testing, chicken feed, and farming practices.

Update as of July 19, 2025: The comparison blog post from another producer, Miller’s Bio Farm, that originally included inaccurate information about our eggs has since been updated with more accurate information, which I sincerely appreciate.

Different Feed Philosophies in Pasture-Raised Eggs

Eggs from small regenerative farms are a massive step up from anything found in the industrial food system. Many farms, including ours, go far beyond the label “pasture-raised” used at many eggs available at grocery stores by using truly mobile pasture-raised systems that allow hens daily access to fresh pasture. That’s something we deeply value and actively implement at Angel Acres and our partnership of small regenerative farms at Nourish Food Club.

Where pasture-raised egg farms often differ is in feed formulation, and that’s okay. But feed formulation has a major impact on the final nutritional composition of the egg, because what hens eat directly influences the types of fats present in the eggs we consume. Since approximately 70–90% of a pasture-raised hen’s diet still comes from feed, these dietary differences meaningfully affect the final egg. Different farms prioritize different nutritional outcomes based on their own research, philosophies, and goals.

At Angel Acres, one of our primary focuses is intentionally producing lower PUFA eggs to better support metabolic health and improve fatty acid stability. To do this, we custom formulate our own chicken feed to be not only corn- and soy-free, but also intentionally lower in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs).

This distinction matters because not all corn- and soy-free chicken feeds are actually low in PUFAs. Corn and soy are often replaced with other high-PUFA ingredients such as sunflower seeds, flax, or canola, which can still significantly increase the overall PUFA content of the final egg.

Our goal is not simply to market “corn- and soy-free” eggs, but to thoughtfully influence the actual fatty acid composition of our eggs through intentional feed formulation and regenerative farming practices. (Verified through 3rd party testing)

If you’d like to learn more about our low PUFA philosophy, you can explore these articles:

• - What are PUFAs?
• - Health Consequences & Metabolic Impacts of High PUFA Diets
• - Our LowPs™ Feed Standards
  
• - How to Eat a Low PUFA Diet

Prefer to watch and listen? Check out my YouTube video where I discuss How PUFAs are Changing Us at the Cellular Level.

Why Angel Acres Eggs Are Intentionally Lower in PUFAs (including Omega 3s)

One of the comparisons made was about the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in our eggs.

With Angel Acres eggs, I do not aim to artificially create high omega-3 eggs, and that is intentional. Omega-3 fats are still polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), and we do not believe that simply increasing PUFA content automatically makes an egg healthier. In my view, the strong emphasis on omega-3 enrichment largely emerged alongside the fish oil movement of the 1990s, where more omega-3s became broadly equated with better health outcomes.

However, there is a growing body of research suggesting that increasing PUFA levels, including omega-3s, may also increase oxidative instability in foods. In eggs specifically, higher omega-3 content has been associated with greater susceptibility to oxidation during cooking and reduced shelf stability, both of which are important considerations to us.

Another important point left out of the Miller's vs Angel Acres eggs article is that not all omega-3s are the same.

Animal-based omega-3 fats naturally found in foods like seafood and pasture-raised animal products differ significantly from plant-based omega-3 fats such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), commonly found in flaxseed and other seeds. While animal-based omega-3s support health in naturally occurring amounts, we do not intentionally formulate feed to artificially elevate omega-3 fats in eggs.

Many corn- and soy-free chicken feeds increase plant-based omega-3 levels through ingredients such as flax, sunflower, or other seed-based fats. This is one reason why we formulate our own custom feed instead of relying on standard commercial corn- and soy-free rations.

If you’d like to dive deeper into our perspective on omega-3 enriched eggs and PUFA reduction, I discuss this more extensively in these articles:

• - The Hidden Dangers of Omega 3 Enriched Eggs
• - Why I don't obsess over the Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio

Personally, I believe the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio is often overemphasized. Instead, I focus more on overall PUFA reduction and improving the saturated fat to PUFA ratio, which I believe better supports metabolic health, oxidative stability, and long-term nutrient quality.

Below is how Angel Acres eggs compare in those areas.

This is also why I often say that not all corn- and soy-free eggs are nutritionally equivalent. The ingredients used to replace corn and soy still matter tremendously and can dramatically change the final fatty acid composition of the egg. And you can learn more about why not all corn- and soy-free eggs are the same in this blog post.

Do Angel Acres Eggs Contain Artificial Colorants?

One claim made about Angel Acres eggs was that we use “colorants” in our chicken feed. I want to clarify exactly what we do, and do not, include in our feed formulation.

No, we do not use artificial colorants or synthetic dyes in our chicken feed.

However, we do include some marigold powder derived from real marigold flowers. This is not used to create artificially orange yolks for marketing purposes, but rather because marigold naturally contains beneficial compounds such as carotenoids and flavonoids, including lutein.

These compounds can help support:

• - Immune function
• - Skin and feather health
• - Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial defenses

The amount of marigold powder we include is very minimal, but we’ve found it to be a helpful addition for chicken health by lowering oxidative stress level for the ladies. We added it only after weighing the potential benefits and hearing from customers who were interested in these natural compounds being passed into the egg. 

If you’ve had our eggs, you’ve probably noticed the yolks aren’t artificially orange like the ones you often see at the grocery store. The yolk color varies naturally throughout the year and even month to month (which is normal and natural for truly pasture-raised hens). 

Based on the available research and our own philosophy, we do not believe there are downsides to including a modest amount of real marigold flower powder alongside a pasture-based diet.

At the end of the day, our priority is not creating artificially vibrant yolks for aesthetics, but raising healthy hens and producing nutrient-dense pasture-raised eggs with thoughtfully formulated feed ingredients.

What Do Angel Acres Chickens Eat?

We care deeply about livestock feed because what animals eat directly impacts the nutritional composition of the food we consume. In many ways, feed formulation sits at the heart of everything we do at Angel Acres and Nourish Food Club.

Back in 2021, I started formulating my own custom chicken feed blend in my garage because I simply could not find a feed on the market that aligned with the nutritional outcomes I was looking for. Most commercial feeds, including many marketed as corn- and soy-free, were still heavily reliant on high-PUFA ingredients that I personally wanted to avoid.

Our goal from the beginning was not just to remove corn and soy, but to intentionally formulate feed for lower PUFA outcomes and a more favorable saturated fat to PUFA ratio in the final egg.

Early on, I made the mistake of partnering with a larger feed company that took the base of our custom formulation and mass-produced their own version while changing one critical detail: the fat source. That seemingly small change dramatically increased the PUFA content of the feed, ultimately changing the fatty acid composition of the eggs themselves. It was a difficult lesson after investing so much time, energy, and personal savings into building this mission from scratch, but it reinforced how important every ingredient choice truly is, and strengthened our commitment to integrity and doing things differently.

If you’ve watched my YouTube video discussing how PUFAs impact metabolism and cellular health, then you already know how strongly I believe the connection between animal feed and human health matters.

Over the past several years, we’ve been fortunate to build close partnerships with regenerative grain farmers who grow many of the actual ingredients that go into our custom feed blend. These partnerships are incredibly meaningful to us because they allow us to source ingredients more intentionally and support farming systems that align with our values.

For us, this is not simply about creating a custom feed ration. It’s about building a more transparent and regenerative seed-to-fork food system from the ground up.

Working directly with regenerative livestock and row crop farmers who care deeply about soil health, ingredient quality, and long-term sustainability has honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey for me personally.

Because of what we experienced early on, we’ve chosen not to publicly publish our complete feed formula online. In the livestock industry, keeping feed formulations proprietary is extremely common because these formulations often represent years of research, testing, sourcing relationships, and trial and error.

That said, our goal is never secrecy. If customers have questions about our feed ingredients, we’re always happy to have open conversations and share the philosophy behind what we do. Our decision simply comes from wanting to protect the integrity of a system we’ve worked incredibly hard to build.

Frequently Asked Questions About Angel Acres Eggs

Are Angel Acres eggs low PUFA?

Yes. Angel Acres eggs are intentionally produced to be lower in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) through custom corn- and soy-free feed formulation and regenerative farming practices. We focus not only on removing corn and soy, but also on improving the overall saturated fat to PUFA ratio of the final egg. Fatty acid testing is performed through independent third-party laboratories, and those results are published on our LowPs™ page.

What do Angel Acres chickens eat?

Our hens are fed a custom-formulated feed blend designed to be lower in PUFAs and free from corn, soy and other high PUFA ingredients. We also prioritize partnerships with regenerative farmers who grow many of the ingredients used in our feed.

Are Angel Acres eggs soy free?

Yes. Angel Acres eggs are produced using a soy-free feed ration. We also avoid many other common high-PUFA feed ingredients often used in corn- and soy-free chicken feeds.

Do Angel Acres Eggs Ship Nationwide?

Yes. Angel Acres eggs are available for nationwide shipping through Nourish Food Club, allowing families across the United States to access pasture-raised eggs produced with our custom feed standards. In warmer months, ice packs are included for temperature regulation during transit.

What's the difference between Angel Acres and Nourish Food Club?

Angel Acres Farm is our original farm and “Angel Acres Egg Club” refers to our incredible egg subscribers who receive pasture-raised egg deliveries at their desired frequency through our partnership of small regenerative farms. Nourish Food Club is our broader food platform that partners with regenerative farmers to provide a wide variety of nutrient-dense, clean, farm-fresh foods, including corn- and soy-free chicken and pork, raw A2 cheese, sourdough bread, and more.

At the end of the day, we’re all simply trying to do better: to raise food with integrity, nourish families, and help move the food system in a more honest, transparent, and regenerative direction.

There is no perfect path, and no single farm has all the answers. But we hope to continue walking this path with humility, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to producing food you can trust.

I hope this post offered some clarity and a better understanding of the heart, intention, and research behind the work we do at Angel Acres and Nourish Food Club.

Thank you for being here and supporting small regenerative farms.

With gratitude,
Farmer Ash