Is one throw in of egg better than another to purchase?
Cruise through the egg section of the grocery store, and it’s impossible not to notice the clutter.
Like consumers, though, egg producers also find the landscape challenging.
Credit:Larisa Niedle
Here, we explain the difference between four of the most popularcage-free vs. free-range, pasture-raised, and organic.
What Are Cage-Free Eggs?
“Ninety percent of consumers think cage-free means the birds go outside,” says McKeon.
Credit:Larisa Niedle
But in reality, cage-free has no requirement for going outdoors.
The hens don’t have to see grass or sunshine.
“What they get is 1.2 square feet per bird,” explains McKeon.
Credit:Larisa Niedle
Cage-free is a government-defined label, unlike some other labels.
That one-plus square foot is truly and literally free of cages, which sounds animal-friendly.
And it can beafter all, the hens must be able to roam freely during their laying cycle.
Credit:Larisa Niedle
What Are Free-Range Eggs?
Like cage-free, free-range also largely refers to the space that the bird gets.
And just like cage-free, free-range is a government-regulated term.
Credit:Larisa Niedle
But the difference between cage-free vs. free-range is that each bird has 2 square feet of outdoor access.
What Are Pasture-Raised Eggs?
Pasture-raised is the only one of these four terms not regulated by the government.
“Where there isn’t regulation, you could find a lot of B.S.,” says McKeon.
Sometimes there’s a silver lining.
They need to forage on natural grass and insects because they’re omnivores," says McKeon.
What Are Organic Eggs?
“Organic refers to the feed that birds get,” says McKeon.
And among consumers aiming to eat cleaner, 16% look for theorganic label, per IFIC.
Are There Nutritional Differences Between These Labels?
Regarding egg nutrition, egg producers can engineer nutrition profiles with what they feed the hens.
In other words, you might create the nutrition profile you want in eggs via the hens' diets.
Which Egg Label Is the Most Sustainable?
The answer truly depends on how you define sustainable.
Some argue that conventional egg farming (think: cages and barns) has the smallest carbon footprint.
Cage-Free vs. Free-Range?
“Eggs have manynutritional benefits,” says McKeon.
You also get additional micronutrients like choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin from eggs.
Overall, which egg product you gravitate towards depends on your purchasing goals and priorities.
There’s no one right answer for everyone, just what’s best for you.
