When we buy eggs, the label provides us with a range of essential information about how the hens are reared. Understanding this information is the first step towards making an informed choice, beyond common misconceptions.
Here is an in-depth look at the sector, aimed at those who know little about it and whose only source of information is what they read on the labels of the products they buy at the supermarket. The aim is to clarify the information on egg labels for consumers in accessible but accurate language, including details and exceptions.
We hope that this brief and didactic list of descriptions (which you can supplement and explore further by consulting the other chapters of this site) will be a useful aid in explaining how things work in the sector, so that consumers can correctly understand what certain common labels mean and what they refer to:
- what the term “free-range” actually means, including details and exceptions;
- what the term “free-range” actually means, including details and exceptions;
- what the term “organic farming” actually means, including details and exceptions;
- what the term “raised without antibiotics” actually means, including details and exceptions.
LET’S ANALYZE THEM:
1.”Free-range”
What it means: this term means that the hens live inside a shed but are not confined to cages. They can move freely on the floor of the building, which is covered with litter (such as straw or wood shavings). They have perches, nests for laying eggs, and areas for scratching and pecking.
Details: The maximum density allowed for this type of farming is 9 hens per square meter inside the shed.
Exceptions and nuances: The term “free-range” refers only to the indoor environment. It does not guarantee access to outdoor areas or natural light. The hens remain inside the shed for their entire productive life cycle.
2. “Free-range”
What it consists of: this farming method offers hens everything provided for “free-range” farming, with one important addition: access to an outdoor space. Hens can enter and leave the shed freely during the day.
Details: in addition to the indoor space, each hen must have at least 4 square meters of outdoor space. The outdoor area must be mainly covered with vegetation.
Exceptions and nuances: access to pasture is guaranteed, but this does not necessarily mean that the hens will use it constantly, as factors such as the weather, the presence of predators, or their own nature may influence their behavior. Furthermore, the wording does not specify whether the feed is organic or not.
3. “Organic farming”
What it consists of: organic farming is the most rigorous and regulated system. It covers not only the living conditions of the hens, but also their feed and the management of the entire supply chain. The hens live in very large spaces, both indoors and outdoors.
Details: Stocking densities are the lowest: a maximum of 6 hens per square meter inside the shed. Feed must be 95% organic, with no GMOs or synthetic additives. Access to an outdoor area is mandatory and guaranteed.
Exceptions and nuances: organic farming is a certification that includes the principles of “free-range” and “free-range” farming, but with even stricter rules on every aspect, from animal health to environmental impact.
4. “Raised without the use of antibiotics”
What it means: this label indicates that the animals have not received any antibiotic treatment during their entire life cycle. It is not a farming method, but a guarantee of animal health management. It is based on prevention, through strict biosecurity measures, a balanced diet, and excellent hygiene.
Details: The guarantee is total. From the beginning to the end of their life cycle, the animals are not treated with antibiotic drugs.
Exceptions and nuances: if a chicken on an “antibiotic-free” farm falls ill and needs treatment, the farmer is obliged to administer antibiotics to cure the animal. However, that animal can no longer be sold as “antibiotic-free.” This does not mean that the animal is abandoned or suffers, but that its product will be marketed with a different label.
OFTEN, IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION ON LABELS, CONSUMERS HAVE QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE PRODUCT ITSELF OR FARMING PRACTICES IN GENERAL, SOMETIMES FUELED BY MYTHS OR INACCURATE INFORMATION.
Here are some of the most common questions, with answers that we hope will provide clarity:
“Is it true that chickens are given hormones to make them grow faster?”
Answer: This is one of the most widespread beliefs, but it is completely false. In Italy and throughout the European Union, the use of growth hormones in poultry farming has been prohibited by law since 1961. The rapid growth of modern broiler chickens is the result of decades of rigorous genetic selection (as we have seen with Aviagen, Cobb, etc.) and highly specialized nutrition, which provides all the nutrients necessary for optimal development.
“If the yolk is darker, is the egg healthier?”
Answer: This is not scientifically correct. The color of the yolk depends directly on the hen’s diet, particularly on natural pigments called carotenoids. If a hen eats corn, grass, or feed enriched with carrots or other vegetables, the yolk will tend to be more orange. If she eats mainly wheat, it will be lighter in color. The color of the yolk is an indicator of nutrition, not of its nutritional quality or healthiness.
“Is there a difference between white eggs and brown eggs?”
Answer: There is no difference. The color of the shell depends solely on the breed of hen. For example, Leghorn hens produce white eggs, while Marans hens produce brown eggs. The color has no influence on the taste, nutritional value, or texture of the egg.
“Are hens always kept in cages?”
Answer: Cage rearing is a practice that is gradually being phased out in many European countries and, in Italy, it has almost completely been abandoned for laying hens. Most of the eggs on the market today come from free-range, outdoor or organic farms, as required by current legislation that promotes greater animal welfare.
OTHER ANSWERS TO OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS:
“What do the numbers and letters printed on the eggshell mean?”
Answer: The code printed on eggs is a real “identity card” that guarantees the traceability and safety of the product. The first number indicates the method of rearing the hen, and is the most important piece of information for the consumer:
0: Organic farming
1: Free-range
2: Free-range
3: Cage rearing
The number is followed by two letters indicating the country of origin (e.g., IT for Italy) and a series of digits identifying the ISTAT code of the municipality where the farm is located, the province code, and the specific farm code.
“If a farm uses antibiotics, does that mean it pays little attention to animal health?”
Answer: The use of antibiotics is a regulated practice aimed at treating sick animals and preventing the spread of infections within a group. In Italy and Europe, antibiotics cannot be used to promote animal growth. The decision by a farm to administer antibiotics, under veterinary supervision, is a responsible practice to ensure the welfare of animals when necessary and to prevent epidemics. The difference between farms that use antibiotics and those that do not therefore lies in their health management model: one is based on treatment, the other on extreme prevention.
“Are broiler chickens genetically modified?”
Answer: no. Broiler chickens, like laying hens, are not genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Their genetics are the result of decades of natural selection and traditional crossbreeding, aimed at enhancing desirable traits such as growth rate and meat yield. Although this selection may appear “artificial,” it does not involve any manipulation of DNA as understood for GMOs.
There are also other less obvious details that often go unnoticed but are at the heart of many consumer questions.
Here are some other common questions and answers:
What happens to male chicks?
Question: Laying hens only produce eggs. But what happens to the male chicks that are born on farms?
Answer: This is a crucial and sensitive question. Male chicks from laying hens do not lay eggs and are not suitable for meat production because they are a different breed from broiler chickens and grow slowly. For this reason, a widespread practice in the industry is to euthanize male chicks shortly after hatching. This is an issue with significant ethical implications, and the industry is investing in technologies to identify the sex of the egg before hatching, thus avoiding the birth of male chicks.
Feeding chickens
Question: What is feed made of? Is it true that animal waste is used?
Answer: Chicken feed is the secret to their health and the quality of their products. Feed consists mainly of cereals (such as corn, wheat, and barley) and vegetable protein meals (such as soy). Minerals and vitamins are added to ensure a complete diet. In Europe, the use of meals derived from animal waste (such as mammals) has been strictly prohibited for years to prevent the risk of disease.
Label details
Question: What does the phrase “fed with organic cereals” mean? Isn’t it the same as “organic”?
Answer: No, it is not the same thing. This wording, often used in marketing, refers only to the feed given to broiler chickens and not to their farming method. A chicken labeled in this way could live in a shed (i.e., free-range), but be fed organic feed. The term “organic,” on the other hand, is a complete and official certification that guarantees both organic feed and a farming system with outdoor access and low density.
NB: if anyone in the poultry industry finds any discrepancies in the information provided, they can write to us and submit reasoned corrections, which we will include after cross-checking.
