A Comprehensive Guide to Understand Labels on Egg Cartons

Picking ethically sourced eggs can be a real challenge when there’s dozens of labels with vague meanings. This is intentional. The intent of slapping the words “fresh” or “natural” on an egg carton is to conjure up a beautiful image of chickens frolicking on wide open pastures in consumers’ minds. This can be a reality, but in most cases it’s not.

Egg Ethics

When layer hens (and other birds) are truly happy and cared for, the relationship between farmer and hen is symbiotic. The hen is provided with a protected space to lay eggs, food & water security, shelter from extreme temperatures, sick treatment and safety from predators. This is something I never considered as a vegan. I viewed the relationship as one-sided because the farmer receives eggs and, eventually, a chicken meal for his family. It took me awhile to accept that there was more than this. In an ideal situation, chicken and human can benefit from each other’s existence.

Sadly this isn’t usually the case though. Most chickens in the U.S. don’t spend their lives on wide open fields with plenty of vegetation. And since not everyone has the option to raise their own chickens or go down to a small family farm, it’s critical that we have transparency from farmers.

Third Party Certifications

This is where third party certifications come into play. The purpose of third party certification programs is to set a standard for what is and isn’t permitted for the egg company so that the consumer has some transparency. You’ll find these labels on the outside of an egg carton, making shopping at any grocery store easier.

But third party certification isn’t EVERYTHING. A farm that isn’t third party certified doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an inhumane farm. In the same respect, a farmer that is American Humane Certified, for instance, may not trim the beaks of his chickens even though he is permitted to. This is why it’s important to know the conditions and welfare practices of your local farm. The guy up the road from me doesn’t have a third party certification, but I know he takes good care of his chickens and I can see them outside all day long.

Before we get to certifications, take note of these other labels you’ll likely find on the outside of the egg carton:

*Note that I did not investigate added growth hormones because growth hormones are not permitted for use in chickens in the U.S., so this is a given for all egg companies.

	Cage-free	Beak cutting prohibited	Forced molting by withholding feed prohibited	Use of a natural light cycle	Housing monitored for cleanliness	Hens have outdoor access (6+ hours/day)	Outdoor living vegetation required	Antibiotic-free (unless treated by vet)	Organic	Humane Slaughter Standards	Free to engage in natural behaviors	Indoor space given per hen	Outdoor space given per hen	Farm Compliance
(1st) Animal Welfare Approved											1. Dust baths 2. Scratch areas 3. Perches 4. Nest boxes	1.8 sq. ft.	4 sq. ft.	100% of standards must be met
(3rd best) American Humane Certified (Pasture)											1. Dust baths 2. Scratch areas 3. Perches 4. Nest boxes	1 – 1.5 sq. ft.	108 sq. ft.	Only 85% of standards must be met
American Humane Certified (Free Range)											1. Dust baths 2. Scratch areas 3. Perches 4. Nest boxes	1 – 1.5 sq. ft.	21.8 sq. ft.	Only 85% of standards must be met
American Humane Certified (Cage Free)											1. Dust baths 2. Scratch areas 3. Perches 4. Nest boxes	1 – 1.5 sq. ft.	Not Specified	Only 85% of standards must be met
(2nd best) Certified Humane (Pasture Raised)											1. Dust baths 2. Perches 3. Nest boxes	1 – 1.5 sq. ft.	108 sq. ft.	100% of standards must be met
Certified Humane (Free Range)											1. Dust baths 2. Perches 3. Nest boxes	1 – 1.5 sq. ft.	2 sq. ft.	100% of standards must be met
Certified Humane (Standard)											1. Dust baths 2. Perches 3. Nest boxes	1 – 1.5 sq. ft.	Not Specified	100% of standards must be met
Food Alliance Certified Level 4											1. Scratch areas 2. Perches 3. Nest boxes	1.23 to 1.75 sq. ft.	Not Specified	Depending on criteria, 75-100% of standards must be met
Food Alliance Certified Level 3											1. Scratch areas 2. Perches 3. Nest boxes	1.23 to 1.75 sq. ft.	Not Specified	Depending on criteria, 75-100% of standards must be met
Food Alliance Certified Level 2											1. Scratch areas 2. Perches 3. Nest boxes	1 to 1.5 sq. ft.	Not Specified	Depending on criteria, 75-100% of standards must be met
Food Alliance Certified Level 1											1. Nest boxes	Not Specified	Not Specified	Depending on criteria, 75-100% of standards must be met
United Egg Producers Certified (Cage Free)											1. Scratch areas 2. Perches 3. Nest boxes	1 to 1.5 sq. ft.	Not Specified	Only 90% of standards must be met
United Egg Producers Certified (Standard)											Not Specified	67 to 86 sq. in.	Not Specified	Only 90% of standards must be met

Concluding Remarks

Now that you’ve been given all the information, it’s up to you to decide where your ethics lie and what you feel comfortable buying. Here’s the top 3 certifications with the highest standards for laying hens:

1. Animal Welfare Approved
2. Certified Humane (Pasture-Raised)
3. American Humane Certified (Pasture)

Note that it’s possible you get different results for the welfare of other animals (ie. pigs, cattle, etc.). I’ll be exploring this next!