Organic, cage-free, free-range, natural, Grade A, and more.
How to decipher egg carton labels, and which ones are worth paying up for.
With eggflation in full swing, its more important than ever to be able to decode an egg carton.
Simply Recipes / Wanda Abraham
Are organic eggs truly better than conventional eggs?
And is it worth shelling out extra for pasture-raised eggs?
Here, were breaking down the jargon to help you shop a little smarter.
Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Eggshell color is simply determined by the breed of the hen and doesnt have any correlation to nutritional value.
Vegetarian-Fed Eggs
This label means that no animal byproducts were used to feed the chickens.
Chickens are omnivores, so a vegetarian diet isnt necessarily healthier.
It also says nothing about their living conditions.
Pasture-Raised Eggs
Because this term isnt regulated by the USDA, any company can slap this on their label.
But itdoeshave meaning if paired with a Certified Humane seal (see more below).
But because theres no space regulations, conditions could still be very cramped.
But that access might be limited, and could consist of a small concrete yard.
The label is strictly regulated through USDAsNational Organic Program.
The hens must have continuous access to nutritious feed and water and have sufficient freedom of movement.
They must each have at least 108 square feet of pasture.
The Takeaway
At the very minimum, its worth spending more for cage-free eggs.
