Eggs 101- Clean Up Your Carton

Most of us buy eggs without thinking much about them, but the cartons you pick up at the supermarket are worth scrutinizing. Of the labels you’ll see, the most important are “certified organic,” biodynamic,” and “pasture raised,” Why? Eggs that bear these designations are superior for nutrition and for cooking. But it’s also a matter of what you don’t get in an organic egg.

You don’t get the antibiotics used on factory egg farms; these may be helping to breed resistant strains of Salmonella, one of the leading caused of food poisoning in America. Your organic eggs don’t come with a side of GMOs and herbicides; conventional producers feed birds a mash of corn and soybeans, much of which is genetically engineered and heavily sprayed with Roundup. Finally, you aren’t supporting a cruel system where penned-up chickens are prevented from foraging for food as they naturally would. IN factory farms, birds are confined in battery cages, tiny wire pens—with little room to turn around or stretch their wings. Organic certification bans battery cages and guarantees hens a healthy amount of uncaged space so the birds can move around.

Check The Code

Certified Organic
The only USDA regulated label. Requires that hens get outdoor access and feed without GMOs, antibiotics or animal products.

Biodynamic
As certified by Demeter USA, farm using this label must follow organic standards, build soil health, and protect biodiversity.

Pasture Raised
This Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) certification means birds must be outdoors on rotated, by vegetation-covered pasture for a minimum of 6 hours, every day, with 108 square feet of space per chicken.

OMEGA-3
Hens’ diet is fortified with flaxseed, which can increase the beneficial, brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids in their eggs by more than 100 percent.

Certified Humane
An HFAC label requiring that hens have space to move around and care from trained handlers.

Vegetarian
Hens’ feed is free of animal protein. Could mean no chance to forage. (Hens are by nature omnivores and will eat insects if given the chance.)

Although this might sound like it means the same thing as pasture raised, it just signifies that outdoor access must be provided for a minimum of 6 hours per day with 2 feet of space per bird.

Cage-Free
Uncaged birds, typically with no outdoor space.

United Egg Producers Certified
Leave these eggs on the shelf. Birds are caged or housed in cage-free indoors, beaks are sheared and feed includes GMOs and antibiotics.

Free Range
Although this might sound like it means the same thing as pasture raised, it just signifies that outdoor access must be provided for a minimum of 6 hours per day with 2 feet of space per bird.

Cage-Free
Uncaged birds, typically with no outdoor space.

United Egg Producers Certified
Leave these eggs on the shelf. Birds are caged or housed in cage-free indoors, beaks are sheared and feed includes GMOs and antibiotics.