Egg Labels Explained

Cooking Light Magazine explained what the different labels mean on egg cartons at the grocery store or supermarket. Here’s the deal:

• “Free-range or free-roaming” – hens live out of cages in indoor facilities, but have some outside access.
• “Cage-free” – hens can roam free in a barn or poultry house, but usually do not go outdoors. Hens can walk, nest, and spread their wings.
• “Certified organic” – hens are not given any antibiotics or hormones.
• “Hormone-free” – basically meaningless because poultry is rarely given hormones.
• “Certified humane” – hens are uncaged with plenty room to nest and perch. The Humane Farm Animal Care and the USDA inspect and certify these farms.
• “Natural” – all eggs are natural because they never have artificial flavors or color.
• “Pasteurized” – eggs are heated to kill bacteria.  Unpasturized egg whites may give better volume in baking than pasturized egg whites.
• “Omega-3 eggs or DHA” – hens are fed seed that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, therefore the omega-3 content in the eggs is higher.
• “Vegetarian or vegetarian-fed” – hens are fed a vegetarian diet.

Ref: Cooking Light magazine, April 2007, p. 34