Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods, providing protein, essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B12, and selenium. Eggs are a staple in many people’s diets because they are not only nutritious, but also versatile and easy to prepare.
Eggs are a healthy option, but shopping for eggs can be confusing because there are multiple labels on egg cartons. It’s important to understand what these labels mean, as they provide information about how to handle the animals and the nutritional content of the eggs in the carton.
Learn what you need to know about egg types, including common egg carton labels and how to choose nutritious, humanely raised eggs.
If you are concerned about animal welfare and the environment, purchasing pasture-raised eggs is your best choice. “Pasture-raised” seal eggs come from hens that spend at least six hours per day outdoors on pasture and each hen has at least 108 square feet of pasture to roam.
Research shows that pasture-raised eggs are generally more nutritious than conventional eggs, with pasture-raised eggs rich in omega-3s, vitamin A, vitamin E, carotenoid antioxidants, and beneficial fatty acids. It contains.
Free-range chicken is also better for the environment as it supports soil quality and ecosystem health. Please note that “pasture-raised” is not a term regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). That’s why it’s best to buy pasture-raised eggs that also come with an animal welfare certificate, such as: Certified humanely raised and treated; This sets out strict requirements for animal welfare.
This USDA regulatory term means that chickens are raised without cages and are allowed to engage in natural behaviors such as scratching and perching. However, this does not mean that chickens have access to the outdoors. Eggs labeled “cage-free” must come from hens that are allowed to roam both vertically and horizontally in an indoor enclosure.
Cage-free systems vary, but many farms raise chickens in crowded indoor environments with no windows. Cage-free hens now make up about 38% of the laying hens in the United States, and their popularity is growing as more people seek better living conditions for their laying hens.
Free-range is another term prescribed by the USDA that requires laying hens to have continuous access to outdoor space during the egg-laying cycle. Each hen requires at least 2 square feet of housing area. However, the USDA does not specify hours or types of outdoor access. Free-range chickens require suitable housing that protects them from predators and promotes animal welfare.
This is a USDA-regulated label that requires laying hens to be fed 100% certified organic feed. Certified organic laying hens are also prohibited from treatment with antibiotics or growth hormones and must be free-range.
Although many of these labels require that laying hens be raised in conditions that improve their quality of life, most laying hens in the United States are raised in poor conditions. Although the number of cage-free laying hens is increasing every year, nearly 71% of all eggs produced in the United States come from hens raised in traditional cage systems.
Chickens raised in these systems spend their entire lives in small cages, unable to engage in natural behaviors such as turning, spreading their wings or scratching.
These conditions not only affect the health and quality of life of laying hens, but also produce eggs from hens raised in traditional cage systems, which produce weaker shells and lighter yolks, leading to industry and consumer concerns. Studies have shown that they produce the worst quality eggs depending on your preference. .
Although the USDA has mandatory requirements for egg safety and wholesomeness, USDA egg grading, a system for checking quality and egg size, is voluntary.
Eggs with an egg grade listed have been graded under the supervision of a USDA egg grader. This process evaluates eggs using methods such as mechanical flash necropsy and mass electronic scanning to determine a grade from AA to B.
Eggs are graded based on several factors, including shell cleanliness, yolk defects, blood stains, and irregular shells.
Here’s what USDA egg grades mean:
- USDA grade AA: This grade indicates eggs of the highest quality, including eggs with clean, unbroken shells and firm, round yolks.
- USDA Grade A: This grade indicates very high quality eggs with clean shells and moderately thick whites.
- USDA Grade B: Grade B eggs indicate defective and low quality eggs. These eggs are typically used in liquid egg products.
Additionally, eggs are weighed during processing and sorted into weight classes. Below are his six weight classes for US eggs based on minimum net weight per 12 eggs.
- jumbo: 30 ounces (oz)
- Extra large: 27 oz
- big: 24 oz
- Moderate: 21 oz
- small: 18 oz
- Pee Wee: 15 oz
Large eggs are the most common type sold in grocery stores.
In addition to the labels and grades listed above, there are some certifications and labels to look out for when purchasing eggs.
- Humane® Certification: Eggs with this certification must meet certified humane standards. These standards prohibit the use of all cages and require sufficient freedom of movement, perches, high-quality feed, etc. Please note that this certification does not require chickens to have access to the outdoors.
- HFAC’s Certified Humane® “Grass-Fed” Eggs with this label come from hens raised in an environment that allows at least 2.5 acres of pasture for every 1,000 birds (equivalent to 108 square feet per bird). Other animal welfare requirements are also met.
- Animal Welfare Certification: This certification is a program of the non-profit Global Animal Partnership and has different certification levels from 1 to 5. Level 1 does not require access to outdoor space, while Level 5 requires continued outdoor living in pasture.
These certifications are voluntary and verified annually by their respective organizations.
You will also see labels related to the feed given to chickens. For example, eggs rich in omega-3s come from hens fed omega-3-rich diets. These eggs are higher in omega-3 compared to conventionally fed chickens. Research shows that omega-3-rich eggs can contain up to five times more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional eggs.
Eggs are also rich in vitamin D, an essential nutrient for immune function, bone health, and more. Eggs from hens fed vitamin D-enriched diets contain 78% more vitamin D than eggs from hens fed conventional diets.
As with chicken eggs, the USDA also tests eggs from other types of domestic birds, such as ducks, turkeys, and geese.
The Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA), passed in 1970, was created to protect consumers by testing eggs sold in the United States. The inspection process ensures that eggs are free of foreign material and that egg products are properly labeled and packaged. It is safe for consumers to eat.
As with chicken eggs, producers of other domestic poultry eggs may also have their eggs graded on a voluntary basis.
All eggs contain important nutrients, but choosing specific egg products supports animal welfare and increases your chances of purchasing healthy eggs.
For example, studies have shown that eggs from pasture-raised chickens are higher in some nutrients compared to conventional eggs. Pasture-raised eggs are generally higher in vitamin A, vitamin D, omega-3 fats, and carotenoid antioxidants than conventional eggs, making them a healthier option.
Not only that, pasture-raised hens have much better living conditions and a significantly higher quality of life compared to hens raised in traditional cage systems.
Most people buy eggs at the grocery store, but you can also buy eggs from local farms that raise chickens on pasture that practice humane practices and produce more nutritious eggs. .
If you don’t want to spend the extra money to buy pasture-raised eggs, look for eggs from companies that use humane practices or have labels such as Certified Humane or Certified Animal Welfare. Please consider choosing.
Eggs are one of the most popular protein sources in the world because they are nutritious, easy to prepare, and versatile. However, eggs come with many labels, which can be confusing when narrowing down the most nutritious product.
All eggs contain important nutrients, but some types of eggs, such as eggs from pasture-raised hens, have higher amounts of certain vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Additionally, some certifications ensure that laying hens are treated humanely and raised in healthier environments.
