Demystifying Egg Labels

As we’ve discussed many times on the show, food labeling needs a BIG TIME redo. Trying to decipher labels at the grocery store can be an exercise in frustration. Many companies intentionally try to mislead consumers, and the egg industry is no exception. Cage-free vs. free-range vs. pasture-raised? What do they all mean? 

While vegans do not eat eggs, many vegetarians and reducetarians do, and many want to buy eggs that come from a humane farm where animal care is a priority. For this reason it is important to understand the meaning of keywords found on egg cartons, including free-range, cage-free, certified organic, Animal Care Certified, and others. In addition to concern over animal welfare, the ways hens are raised and cared for can also impact the environment and the nutritional value of the eggs themselves. Let’s define some of these labels. 

Cage-Free vs. Free-Range vs. Pasture-Raised Eggs

Cage-free eggs This label is certified by the USDA, who guarantees that “eggs packed in USDA grade-marked consumer packages labeled as cage-free are laid by hens that are able to roam vertically and horizontally in indoor houses, and have access to fresh food and water. Cage-free systems vary from farm-to-farm, and can include multi-tier aviaries. They must allow hens to exhibit natural behaviors and include enrichments such as scratch areas, perches and nests. Hens must have access to litter, protection from predators and be able to move in a barn in a manner that promotes bird welfare.”

Because 90% of eggs in the US come from hens confined to a 67 square inch space their entire lives, being out of this type of battery cage might seem like a step in the right direction as far as animal welfare is concerned. However, there still aren’t any space requirements that go along with the cage-free certification, so these birds may still end up with very little room to spread their wings or roam freely and very often live in extremely cruel and unsanitary conditions.

Free-range eggs Eggs packed in USDA grade-marked consumer packages labeled as “free-range” must be “produced by hens that are able to roam vertically and horizontally in indoor houses, and have access to fresh food and water, and continuous access to the outdoors during their laying cycle. The outdoor area may be fenced and/or covered with netting-like material. Housing systems vary from farm-to-farm and can include multi-tier aviaries. They must allow hens to exhibit natural behaviors and include enrichments such as scratch areas, perches, and nests. Hens must have access to litter, protection from predators and be able to move in a barn in a manner that promotes bird welfare.”

Unfortunately, “access to the outdoors” is subjective, and could simply mean that a door to the outside is provided but isn’t necessarily kept open at all times. There is also a significant loophole in that free-range farmers have the discretion to temporarily confine birds for “reasons of health, safety, the animal’s stage of production or to protect soil or water quality.” Many free-range egg farms take full advantage of this loophole by almost never allowing the birds outside.

Additionally, there isn’t a clear limit with respect to “stocking density,” so even though a door may be provided, most chickens packed in a warehouse will never see any outdoor space.

So while the terms cage-free and range-free can sound, to the unenlightened ear, like humane options, these certifications still allow for much of the same cruel and inhumane conditions we are seeking to avoid.

Pasture-Raised Eggs Unlike cage-free and free-range, there is no USDA-certified “pasture-raised” label. Instead, the pasture-raised concept is based on European standards that hens have at least 108 square feet of space and they eat grass, bugs, works and anything else they can find.