There are many varieties of eggs on the shelves at your local grocer or market. But what do all those labels mean?
Read on to find out the difference between types of eggs in your local grocery store.
EGG COLOUR:
- Eggs come in different colours. They can be white, soft brown, dark brown, blue, green or pink!
- The most common colours are white & brown.
- White & brown eggs are identical in nutrition and how they cook.
- DID YOU KNOW…that most white eggs come from hens with white feathers and brown eggs come from hens with brownish-red feathers.
EGG GRADE:
- Grades are based on how an egg looks. For example: The thickness & firmness of the white and how round and high the yolks are.
- Grades are often tied to how fresh and egg is.
- Grades AA are the highest quality eggs, followed by Grade A, then Grade B.
EGG TYPES:
- Conventional Eggs: Eggs laid by hens who are kept in small cages, often in large numbers.
- Cage-free: Eggs laid by hens that are in a hen house free to roam a building or small room with nests and perches.
- Free-range: The same as cage-free, but the hens must have access to the outdoors.
- Vegetarian-fed: Eggs laid by hens that are fed a vegetarian diet.
- Omega-3 Enriched: Eggs laid by hens that are fed a diet rich in omega-3s (ex. flaxseed oil, linseed oil, and kelp)
- Certified Humane: Eggs laid by hens in facilities that meet the Humane Farm Animal Care Organization standards for animal treatment.
- Pasteurized: Eggs are heated up to a specific temperature to destroy pathogens.
- Pasture Raised: Eggs laid by hens who live similar to how hens would naturally live: in pasture, with the ability to freely roam, scratch, forage and peck. There is more space dedicated to hens in pasture raised than free range.
- Organic: Eggs laid by cage-free or free-range hens that are fed certified organic feed without antibiotics or hormones.
Save this guide next time you are shopping for eggs.
