The healthiest eggs you can buy are pasture-raised eggs, which have more antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A and E than conventional eggs. Pasture-raised eggs also come from hens in more humane living conditions.\n<\/p>\n
Understanding what the labels on egg cartons mean is important. They convey information about how animals are treated as well as the nutritional content of the eggs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pasture-raised eggs are generally more nutritious than conventional eggs. They provide more antioxidants<\/a>, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A and E than conventional eggs.\n<\/p>\n Purchasing pasture-raised eggs is also the best choice if you are concerned about animal welfare and the environment.\n<\/p>\n Eggs with the “pasture-raised” seal come from hens who spend hours outdoors on at least 108 square feet of pasture. Pasture-raising also supports soil quality and ecosystem health.\n<\/p>\n Keep in mind: “Pasture-raised” is not a U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)-regulated term. It is best to purchase pasture-raised eggs that come with an animal welfare certification, such as “Certified Humane Raised and Handled.”\n<\/p>\n This USDA-regulated term means hens are raised without cages and can engage in natural behaviors.\n<\/p>\n This does not mean hens have access to the outdoors. Eggs labeled as “cage-free” must come from hens that are able to roam both vertically and horizontally in indoor housing.\n<\/p>\n Cage-free hens make up around 38% of the United States laying flock. Their popularity is on the rise as more people demand better living conditions for laying hens.\n<\/p>\n Free-range is another USDA-regulated term. It requires laying hens to have continuous access to outdoor space during their laying cycle.\n<\/p>\n Each hen must have a minimum of 2 square feet of range area. However, the USDA does not specify the amount of time or type of outdoor access.\n<\/p>\n Free-range hens are required to have protection from predators and adequate housing that promotes animal welfare.\n<\/p>\n This USDA-regulated label requires laying hens to be fed 100% certified organic feed.\n<\/p>\n Certified organic laying hens are prohibited from being treated with antibiotics or growth hormones. They must also be free-range.\n<\/p>\n Many of these labels require laying hens to be raised in humane living conditions. However, most laying hens in the United States are raised in poor conditions. Nearly 71% of all eggs in the United States come from hens raised in conventional cage systems.\n<\/p>\n Hens raised in these systems live their entire lives confined to cages. They are unable to turn around and engage in natural behaviors.\n<\/p>\n These conditions affect the health and quality of life of laying hens. They also produce the worst-quality eggs, including eggs with weak shells and pale yolk color.<\/p>\n The USDA has mandatory requirements for egg safety and wholesomeness. Egg grading, which checks for quality and egg size, is voluntary.\n<\/p>\n During this process, eggs<\/a> are evaluated to determine their grade, which ranges from AA to B. Eggs are graded based on shell cleanliness, yolk defects, blood spots, irregular shells, and more.\n<\/p>\n The USDA egg grades include:\n<\/p>\n USDA Grade AA: The highest quality eggs, such as those with clean, unbroken shells and firm, round yolksUSDA Grade A: Very high-quality eggs, including those with clean shells and reasonably thick whitesUSDA Grade B: Lower-quality eggs that have defects and are usually used for liquid egg products<\/p>\n Eggs are also weighed and separated into weight classes, such as:\n<\/p>\n Jumbo: 30 ounces (oz)Extra large: 27 ozLarge: 24 ozMedium: 21 ozSmall: 18 ozPeewee: 15 oz<\/p>\n Large eggs are the most common type sold in grocery stores.<\/p>\n There are a few more certifications and labels to be aware of when shopping for eggs, including:\n<\/p>\n Animal Welfare Certified: This program from Global Animal Partnership has levels from one to five. Level one allows indoor living, while level five requires full-time pasture access.Certified Humane\u00ae: Eggs with this label come from hens raised without cages and given space to move, perch, and eat quality feed. Outdoor access is not required.HFAC’s Certified Humane\u00ae “Pasture Raised”: These eggs come from hens with at least 108 square feet of pasture each. They must also meet other animal welfare standards.<\/p>\n These certifications are voluntary and are verified yearly by their respective organizations.\n<\/p>\n You will also see labels that have to do with the feed that hens are given. Omega-3-enriched eggs come from hens given omega-3-enriched feed. They can contain up to five times more omega\u20103 fatty acids<\/a> than conventional eggs.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n