What You Should Know Before Buying Eggs

Let’s be clear – people are great fans of eggs. They like eggs when they are cooked, fried, poached, hard boiled and they even make special combinations of eggs and veggies or fruits! Every grocery store usually has several types of eggs in their offer and this is what makes many people wonder whether they have made the right choice when they finally pick some of the eggs found there. Choosing the right eggs is much more than choosing brown or white or extra large or large eggs. Consumers can now select between pasture raised or cage free with organic and natural feed. Yes, the labels are getting more and more complicated and that’s why we have decided to decipher egg labels for you. Next time you visit the grocery store, check the label and learn more about the eggs you are buying.

Learn More About Buying Eggs Deciphering Egg Labels

Certified Humane

This is a so-called HFAC label. It means that the hens had sufficient space to move and they were raised by certified and qualified handlers.

Biodynamic

Demeter USA is the organization that issues these certifications. Farms that have the right to use this label must practice organic techniques, preserve biodiversity and watch the health of the soil.

Cage-free

This term is self-explanatory. The birds were raised out of a cage, but they didn’t have access to outdoor areas.

Certified Organic

This label is issued by USDA. In order for some eggs to be labeled as certified organic they must be produced by hens that didn’t consume any GMOs, animal products or antibiotics and they had outdoor access.

Grass-Fed

Grass-fed eggs come from hens that have used grass and other similar foods naturally found in pastures, but without the grains.

Free Range

We must make a difference between free range and pasture raised. Free range hens are given access to the outdoor areas for at least 6 hours per day with at least 2 sq feet of space for each hen.

Organic

Organic eggs are produced by free-range chickens that didn’t consume any antibiotics and hormones.

Omega-3

This term is used to describe the hen’s eating pattern which contained flaxseed too. With this specific diet, hens are able to produce eggs with double amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

Natural

There are no artificial substances in the eggs and they were processed minimally.

United Eggs Producers Certified

Now here’s a type of egg that you should probably skip. If you find this line on the label it means that the chickens had sheared beaks, they were caged or cage-free raised and their diet included GMOs and/or antibiotics.

Pasture Raised

This is a certification issued by HFAC or Humane Farm Animal Care. The chickens were left outdoors on pasture with rich vegetation for a minimum of 6 hours per day with about 110 sq feet of space for each hen. Via 1M Health Tips