When youre standing in front of the eggs at the grocery store, which carton do you grab?
Im getting overwhelmed just thinking about it.
Does that even exist?
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And if it does, how can you wade through a cartons many labels to find it?
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This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
To put it in perspective, thats an area a little smaller than a MacBook.
Unfortunately, thats not the case.
Eggs come in many colors (some chickens even lay beautiful blue eggs!
), and brown eggs are no healthier than white ones.
All-Natural / Farm Fresh / Hormone-Free
These terms are meaningless.
Slapping all-natural on a label is a rampant form ofgreenwashing.
Vegetarian-Fed
Again, this sounds good but its not, because chickens are omnivores.
Therefore, vegetarian birds are force-fed an unnatural diet thats bad for their health.
Chickens are the furthest thing from vegetarians, one farmer toldThe Washington Post.
That advertising is ridiculous.
Its like people going to the zoo and saying they only want to see the vegetarian tiger.
Cage-Free
Ready for a surprise (and not the good kind)?
Cage-free isnt what its cracked up to be.
Thats just not accurate.
What a treat!)
One thing everyone agrees on?
Cage-free operations cost36% moreto operate, a cost thats passed on to you.
With that in mind, do you think theyre worth the cost?
I dont, and neither do the experts.
Free-Range
All right, were getting closer.
Butaccessto the outdoors is different than actuallygoingoutdoors, and Kastel says: The term free-range is very poorly regulated.
Ugh, fooled again!
Organic
Ah,organic.
Slap this seven-letter word on anything, and people will pay more for it.
The hens are fed an organic diet of feed produced without conventional pesticides or fertilizers.
So, its a good starting point, but not all you should be looking for.
And even pastured chickens are raised with a variety of standards.
Many farms, for example, still engage in beak-cutting and theculling of male chicks.
Pasture-raised hens, for the most part, are actually happy and healthy.
Which means theyre better for you, too.
Now that weve demystified egg labeling, one question remains: Which eggs should I buy?
My simple answer: Do everything you’ve got the option to to buy pasture-raised eggs.
In my opinion, theyre absolutely worth the price.
And, as Kastel points out, Food is the absolute foundation for good health.
Itll pay off in the end.
And if yourgrocery storedoesnt carry pasture-raised eggs,ask for them.
I did this at my localPublix, and now I can easily buy eggs I feel good about eating.
Cant afford pastured eggs?
Then just buy the cheapest ones you’re free to find.
Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget.
Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
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