04/23/2026
What’s that label mean?
Egg cartons contain a lot more than egg count and nutritional labels. But what do all of those terms really mean?
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Pack Date:
The Julian date (3 digits) indicates the day of the year the eggs were cleaned and placed in the carton. Carton dates start on January 1 (2X001) and end on December 31 (2X365). So, January 1st would be 26001 in 2026.
Egg Size:
Size only affects cooking times and recipe measurements, and has no bearing on nutritional quality. The size classes of eggs are based on weight and are standardized by the dozen, not the individual egg dimensions. My birds lay medium to extra large eggs, but they weigh out to a size Large over a dozen eggs.
Grade Markings:
Grade AA is the highest quality, with thick, firm whites and high, round yolks. Grade A is high quality with reasonably firm whites.
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Housing Claims:
Nothing noted:
Hens most likely are confined to battery cages, often without enough room to even turn around. These are your discount, economy eggs at the grocery. They are often 5-6 weeks from being laid before they reach the grocery shelves.
Cage Free:
Hens are not confined to battery cages but may be crowded indoors, and may never see grass or the outside world.
Free Range:
On an egg carton, this means that hens have access to outdoor areas, though quality and duration vary. When speaking about backyard flocks, this term is much broader, and often means the birds are not confined to a pen during the day and are free to roam. Often used interchangeably with Pasture Raised in this 2nd sense of the phrase.
Pature Raised:
Highest welfare standard with significant outdoor access (not USDA-regulated). Often used interchangeably with Free Range when speaking about backyard chickens.
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Feed and Treatment
Organic:
Fed without synthetic pesticides or GMOs. Organic labeling is supposed to indicate clean and healthy foods, but is often used as marketing rather than a legitimate indicator of quality. If this claim is on a label, it should include a USDA certification.
Vegetarian-fed:
Hens fed diets without animal byproducts. This is an odd claim, as healthy birds require insects and animal protein in their diet. Insects are animal byproducts. A chicken cannot be both free range or pasture raised and also be vegetarian-fed.
No Antibiotics:
Standard practice since antibiotics reduce egg production.
Omega-3 Enhanced:
Hens fed diets supplemented with omega-3 sources, such as flaxseed, algae, or fish oils. Diets rich in omega-3 are important for heart, eye, and brain health.
