Not all egg cartons tell the full story. Labels like cage-free, free-range, and pasture-raised sound reassuring—but many don’t mean what most people assume.
🍳 Why eggs matter
Eggs are a true superfood:
✅ High-quality protein
✅ Healthy fats
✅ Vitamin D (rare in foods)
✅ Selenium, B-vitamins, choline
✅ Efficient, affordable nutrition
📦 What the labels actually mean
🔹 Conventional – Hens typically live in battery cages with limited movement
🔹 Cage-Free – No cages, but still indoors in crowded barns
🔹 Free-Range – Indoor housing with limited outdoor access (often dirt, not grass)
🔹 Pasture-Raised – Not USDA-regulated; quality depends on the farm
🔹 Organic – USDA-certified feed, no GMOs or antibiotics, outdoor access required
⚠️ Many terms are marketing language, not guarantees of space, sunlight, or pasture.
🌿 Does nutrition change?
Small differences exist—pasture-raised eggs may have more vitamin D, omega-3s, and antioxidants—but overall, eggs remain nutritious across labels.
💡 Bottom line
Choose eggs based on your values: animal welfare, sourcing transparency, nutrition, or cost. When in doubt, local farms offer the clearest answers.
🥚 You’re not choosing good vs bad eggs—you’re choosing what matters most to you.