Egg Carton labels. What do they mean?
We’ve all seen the multitude of labels on egg cartons when we go to the grocery store. Terms like “Farm Fresh” and “Cage-Free” permeate the market. But what do these terms actually mean? Let’s identify them.
Cage-Free: Chickens who are “cage-free” don’t live in the typical 2.7 square foot cage that most large egg producers house their birds in. They are often times kept in a large, dimly lit, enclosed barn with no outdoor access. They have room to walk around and stretch their wings, but they’ll never taste fresh air or sunshine.
Farm Fresh: All food is produced on a farm, whether it’s a large enclosed barn or pasture, so this term really doesn’t have any value. “Farm Fresh” typically means that the products aren’t frozen, but eggs rarely are and shouldn’t be.
Free-Range: Chickens who are “Free Ranged” typically live a better life than the previous models, but are still limited. They still live in large enclosed barns, but often have some windows and a small patio strip of grass to munch on. They get some air and sunshine, but it’s limited. Their ranging isn’t that good either. Any chicken farmer knows that if chickens are left in the same spot for too long, that area becomes desolate and devoid of grass. Chickens are foragers. They scratch around in the dirt looking for bugs and other munchies. Letting them range on the same piece of land for too long leaves it bare and lifeless.
Natural: Eggs are by definition a natural food product, so this term doesn’t carry any weight on a package. The birds can still live in poor conditions and have this label on the carton.
No Hormones: Chicken eggs and meat with hormones are by law illegal to sell, so eggs with this label on it are no different than any other.
Organic: Per the Merriam Webster Dictionary, “Organic” is food that is produced using feed of plant or animal origin, and without chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides. Most egg producers, even if the chickens have some ranging space, still use feed that has antibiotics. That is because even though the birds can get some fresh air, the range space is extremely limited and their housing is cramped, giving ample opportunity for diseases to form and spread. To combat this, producers need antibiotics to keep the chickens alive. So in the technical definition of the word, very few producers are truly “Organic”.
Pasture-Raised: There is no official definition for this term, so the actual living conditions of the chickens is unclear. Some labels like the the “Certified Humane” and “American Humane Certified” labels categorize pasture raised chickens as those who have access to pasture and are able to perform natural behaviors such as scratching and pecking for grass and bugs.
Overall, there are many options to choose from when it comes to buying eggs. The best advice I can give you is to do your own research. We created this page to educate our customers. Real, good food that hasn’t been touched by a machine is hard to come by in today’s society. If we want to get America onto the path of healthy foods, we need to stop supporting the large monopolies and support the local producers. We also encourage you to get some chickens of your own! If you would like to see how we keep our chickens, keep your eyes peeled for our next article on our pastured model.
