guidelines to follow when egg shopping:
- Be conscious of antibiotic and hormone use.
While the USDA prohibits the use of hormones for egg
production and the use of therapeutic antibiotics is
illegal unless the hens are ill, these rules aren’t always
enforced. The only way to ensure that the hens were
not given antibiotics is to purchase organic eggs. - To guarantee that you get truly free-range eggs,
purchase eggs from pastured hens. Pastured hens are
able to eat their natural diet of greens, seeds, worms,
and bugs, and studies show that their eggs may contain
more omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. - Smaller eggs tend to have thicker shells than
larger eggs and therefore are less likely to become
contaminated by bacteria. - Be cautious of unregulated labels. Terms like
“natural” and “cage-free” are frequently used, but these
claims may not necessarily be valid. Claims on egg
packaging with the USDA shield have been verified by
the United States Department of Agriculture, so look
for the shield when purchasing eggs from a store.