Eggs - the differences in labels
Recently I read an article about eggs and I realised that I don't actually know the difference between the labels. What's the difference between free-range eggs and organic eggs or biological eggs. What do all these label means? If you are just as clueless as me, read on!
Disclaimer: There are maybe some other labels in other countries which I am not aware of. The references I made here are to the eggs sold in The Netherlands.
Cage eggs
These are probably the cheapest eggs. The hens are confined in cages where they can't even move an inch. They are usually fed with the cheapest food. This is really a production line rather than a farm.
Barn eggs
No more confined pens! The hen share a square metre of barn with 6 others and are still confined indoors their entire lives. At least they can flap their little wings and walk around. It doesn't mean though that their feed is any better than caged hens. Barn eggs can be recognized by the barn egg logo and is checked by the CPE. CPE stands for control office for bird, eggs and egg products.50% corn eggs
The barn hens which lay these eggs get fed balanced grains, of which minimal 50% corn. Because of this, the egg yolk gets a full yellow colour and contains less fat.
Free range eggs can be recognized by the free range logo on the right.
Free range eggs
Free range eggs are laid hens which can move freely in a barn and in a field. This environment simulates the situation as it was on the old-fashioned farm, where the chickens ran outside freely. The regulation in The Netherlands stipulate 4m2 per hen is available to claim the mark. It however does not imply in any way that the hens are fed differently from the cage hens.
Free range eggs can be recognized by the free range logo on the right.
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