OMEGA-3 ENRICHED

These eggs come from hens whose food has been boosted with flax, algae, or fish oil and contain more fatty acids. But dietitians say that if you’re looking to increase your omega-3s, you’re better off eating fish, nuts, and seeds.

VEGETARIAN

These eggs come from hens who are fed corn and soy, but no animal protein. This sounds like a good choice when buying eggs, until you consider that hens naturally eat bugs when they come across them. According to the Humane Society of the United States, hens fed a vegetarian diet means they don’t have access to the outdoors.

USDA ORGANIC

This label refers to eggs that come from uncaged hens that have access to the outdoors and a pesticide-free diet. Farms that use the label “USDA Organic” are checked regularly for compliance. However, access to the outdoors means simply that. Just because there’s a door in the hen house, doesn’t mean the hens are using it.

CAGE-FREE AND FREE-RANGE

These are two of the most misleading labels. Cage-free doesn’t mean that hens are romping around in a spacious environment. There’s no rule as to how much space the hens get, they can be packed in as tightly as hens in cages are, which is typically eight-tenths of a square foot of space. Free-range, is not much better. Just like in the USDA Organic label, free-range eggs basically means that the hens have access to the outdoors, but it doesn’t mean they are all foraging around all day everyday. Free-range poultry has a legal definition, but when it comes to eggs, there’s none.

According to Jonathan Safran Foer, who wrote the book Eating Animals, he considers these two labels “bullshit.” Foer says: “Imagine a shed containing thirty thousand chickens, with a small door at one end that opens to a five-by-five dirt patch—and the door is closed all but occasionally.” That wasn’t exactly what I had pictured when I initially came across free-range and cage-free. For a previous Pet Chat column covering more of Foer’s book, check out http://www.independent.com/news/2009/nov/20/eating-animals/#comments

CA SEFS (California Shell Egg Food Safety) COMPLIANT

These eggs come from hens who have enough room to lie down, stand up, turn around, and spread their wings without touching another hen. State farm inspectors check for compliance and violations are misdemeanors.

PASTURE-RAISED

In order for eggs to be labeled pasture-raised according to Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) requirements, a producer must provide 108 square feet of outdoor space per bird. “The hens must be outdoors year-round, with mobile or fixed housing where the hens can go inside at night to protect themselves from predators, or for up to two weeks out of the year, due only to inclement weather,” the HFAC website states. In my opinion, if you’re an animal lover, and concerned about the welfare of chickens, these eggs are the ones to buy.