Eggs
Not all eggs are created equal, which is why it’s important to know the difference. I have put together a guide to help you make an educated decision the next time you are at the grocery store.
Terms & Definitions
Fun Fact: Did you know that egg shell color is correlated to the earlobe color of the hen that lays them?
Egg Shell Color- color depends on the breed of hen and can range from white, cream, brown, blue, and green.
Yolk Color- Deeper yolk color indicates a diet higher in carotenoids (essential antioxidants), this is common with chickens who are allowed to forage for plants and bugs. However, manipulating egg yolk color is easy and common. Chickens that have eaten red chilies, paprika and marigold petals have darker yolks due to the active dye in these foods. Ask your local farmer or call the customer service line on your carton of eggs to find out if dyes are used to pigment the yolk color.
Grading- The USDA grades eggs as AA, A, or B. AA’s are of the best quality, B’s are the least. Anything below a B is not graded and not put out on store shelves.
Organic- Certified Organic egg-laying hens are cage-free, have access to the outdoors, and are vegetarian/organically fed. which include not feeding the chickens any food with pesticides, hormones or antibiotics.
All Natural- This term is just a marketing ploy, there is no regulation whatsoever. The chickens can live in battery cages or have their beaks trimmed and still be called “natural”.
Omega-3 Enriched- This title means the diet of the chicken is enriched with feed containing higher levels of omega-3’s like flax seed, fish oil and soy.
Conventional Eggs- These eggs are raised in factories where the chickens are crowded together in cages. These close quarters can be a breeding ground for disease, so their food is loaded with antibiotics and hormones to keep disease at bay and increase production. These eggs tend to be lighter in color and are less nutritious.
Cage Free- This means that chickens aren’t kept in cages, it does not mean cruelty free. These chickens still live in a cramped facility on top of one another, never see the light of day and have a higher mortality rate. These hens are given antibiotics to prevent disease and hormones to increase yield.
Free Range- These chickens have access to the outdoors but it does NOT mean that they actually choose to go outside and this could also mean that their access to the outdoors is 5 minutes a day.
***There is little difference between free-range eggs, cage-free eggs, and conventional eggs***
Pasture Raised-These hens actually live outdoors on fresh pastures (108 sqft per bird on rotated pastures) and they eat a diet if insects, seeds and grass.
The Amount of Space Given To Various Hens
A 2007 study done by Mother Earth News showed that in comparison to conventional eggs, pasture-raised eggs contain;
- 1/3 less cholesterol
- 1/4 less saturated fat
- 2/3 more Vitamin A
- 7 times more beta carotene
- 4-6 times more Vitamin D
- 3 times more Vitamin E
- 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
Which Egg Should I Choose?
Ideally the best egg is;
- Organic
- Pastured Raised
- USDA A or AA
- Stamped with the Certified Humane or Animal Welfare Approved Seal
If you have to pay a few dollars more than usual, you will know you spent money on the things that matter.
Get to know your local farmers, ask questions and buy your eggs from them if you agree with their practices. Many small, local farmers supply farm fresh eggs from chickens that are actually raised outdoors in un-crowded conditions.
Personally, if I do not get my eggs from a local farmer I choose to buy Vital Farms brand (this is NOT sponsored) https://vitalfarms.com.