5 Common Labels On Egg Carton Labels And What They Really Mean

Eggs are highly nutritious, support health and good for weight loss. They are used in most

recipes and are a great source of vitamins as well as protein.

For example, phrases like “cage-free", “free range", and “certified organic” are commonly

used but it is a bit difficult to discern the real quality of the eggs.

So if you are a mom or someone who loves to eat or use eggs this article will provide

necessary information on how to read egg labels. Read on therefore, if you want to get the

best quality of eggs for yourself and people you love!

First, some information on common phrases used to describe eggs:

1. Cage-free: This refers to eggs produced by chickens that don't live in cages but in barns.

This prevents the chickens from being able to supplement their diets with natural foods —

worms, seeds, insects, and tiny plants.

2. Free-range: The eggs in this case are produced by chickens that live in barns and have

some access to outside conditions but may not necessarily gain access to natural dietary

sources.

3. Certified Organic: These eggs are produced by chickens that are fed an organic,

all-vegetarian diet free of animal byproducts, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other

chemical additives.

4. Natural: This is sometimes interchanged with organic. It simply means that the chickens

are fed food with no additional ingredients added such as coloring or flavorings.

5. Omega-3 enriched: This means additional omega-3s are included in the chicken feed in

order to elevate the omega-3 level of the eggs. It should be noted that omega-3 enriched

eggs have shorter shelf life than non-enriched ones.

So which kind of eggs should you go for? Do read on!

As much as you are free to decide the kind of eggs you want based on the circumstances

surrounding you, it is recommended that you choose pastured eggs.

Pastured eggs come from chickens that live as chickens should, eat a diet that is made up

of all kinds of seeds, green plants, worms, and insects. They are able to range freely and

eat as much or as little as they want. Such birds are healthy and do not need any chemical

additives to survive.

More and more people are now aware of the health benefits of pastured eggs and so the

supply is increasing. Look for local farmers around you and purchase your eggs directly. If

that is difficult, check the labels on the eggs in the grocery store carefully to choose pastured

ones.

The benefits of pastured eggs cannot be overemphasized — less cholesterol, less

saturated fat, more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E,

and 7 times more beta carotene.

Now you are armed with enough information on the best kind of eggs and should be more

confident feeding your family natural and healthy eggs.