Chicken eggs are a great way to get quality protein into your diet without spending a fortune. However, with more and more “designer egg” options available in today’s supermarkets, you may be wondering if you need to spend more to get the most benefit from this traditionally nutritious food. Get the current facts about eggs.
- Beware of Cage Free, Free Range, Pastured, and Pasture Raised claims. Unfortunately, there are no regulations about food manufacturers putting these particular labels on eggs. If you’re committed to buying high-quality eggs from humanely raised chickens, going to a local farmer or an egg producer listed on www.LocalHarvest.org may be more reliable options.
- Certified Organic is a label you can trust. Third-party auditors ensure that eggs labeled “certified organic” come from hens who are raised cage-free and with outdoor access. Their diets must also be 100% organic, vegetarian, and free of antibiotics and pesticides.
- Grade AA eggs are the best quality. The USDA denotes eggs as Grade AA, A, or B based on specific quality and freshness standards.
- Omega-3 Enhanced may be better, but not much. Some eggs come from hens that are fed an omega-3 rich diet, making the eggs rich in omega-3 fatty acids. However, the amount of omega-3 in enhanced eggs usually won’t make up for a diet that is otherwise omega-3 deficient.