I’m not dogmatic when it comes to choosing a way of eating, I listen to my body and try to do what’s best for it.  So when it comes to buying organic I buy as much as I can but I don’t go crazy.  However, there are a few foods that I always buy organic and eggs are one of them.

A few days ago I was in my grocery store and as I went to pick out a carton of eggs I found myself scrutinizing the labels.

I found myself wondering if my organic eggs were all that I thought they were.

When I took a look at all the different labels on egg cartons I realized I had to look a lot closer.  The good news …

ORGANIC is the way to go when it comes to eggs.

According to researchers at Rodale’s, of all the labels on your egg carton, “certified organic” AND “pasture raised” are the most important.  Certified Organic is the ONLY USDA-regulated label, it requires that hen’s get outdoor access and feed without GMO’s, antibiotics or animal products.  While organic certification requires the hens get access to outdoor space implementation of that regulation can vary from farm to farm, this is why looking for pasture raised is a good idea.  This certification ensures that the hens are outdoors on rotated, vegetation covered pasture for a minimum of 6 hours a day, with over 100 square feet of space per chicken.

Some of the other labels you may encounter include:

BIODYNAMIC: Biodynamic farming is a holistic method of organic farming developed by Dr. Rudolf Steiner in the 1920’s.  Farms using this label must follow organic standards, build soil health and protect biodiversity.

Biodynamic egg yolks are often a very deep yellow, almost orange in color.

OMEGA-3: Hens’ diet is fortified with flaxseed, which increases the omega-3 fatty acids in their eggs.  Fortified eggs may have as much as 5 times the level of omega-3 as conventional eggs.

FREE RANGE: This might sound like “pasture raised” but it’s not.  Free range has been a marketing buzz word for a while now, and while it may bring to mind animals roaming free on green pastures, it really only means that the animals have access to the outdoors with 2 square feet per bird.

CAGE FREE: Uncaged hens, but does not guarantee they have had access to the outdoors.

CERTIFIED HUMANE: This Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) label requires that hens have space to move around and care from trained handlers.

Knowing what labels mean when you shop is an important part of making healthy choices for you and your family. Want more tips? Sign up for my newsletter, it’s free and filled with great tips, recipes and news.