Eggs have a lot going for them. For just about 70 calories, a large egg provides 6 grams of satisfying protein, vitamin D, a variety of B vitamins, essential minerals such as iron and zinc, choline, which is important for brain health, and lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote eye health. Plus they are fast and easy to cook. Even though egg prices have risen recently, eggs are still very economical, running roughly 30 cents each on average, depending on which kind you buy. This is why it’s important to be well-versed in your egg terminology.
For those concerned about cholesterol, it turns out that for the vast majority of people the cholesterol we eat doesn’t significantly raise our blood cholesterol; rather, saturated fat does. So foods that are relatively low in saturated fat but high in cholesterol, such as eggs, do not have to be avoided. It’s worth noting that the yolk of the egg contains all the fat and cholesterol, but also most of the egg’s vitamins and minerals. The general guideline is to stick to one whole egg per day. (That said, you should defer to the advice of your doctor and/or dietitian.)
Actually, deciding which carton of eggs to grab at the market can be the most difficult thing about them. The confusing claims on the shelf are nothing short of mind-boggling. Now that there’s a green light to eat eggs more freely, here’s some information to make the retail egg hunt a bit easier, this way you can know your egg terminology before heading to the store.
Egg Terminology 101
Farm-fresh or all-natural
These are marketing terms; they have no official meaning whatsoever. They are used to conjure a wholesome impression of the product for the consumer, like the picture of a farm might. Disregard these words — and any images of bucolic fields, for that matter.
Cage-free, free-range or pasture-raised
These labels pertain to the way the egg-laying hens are treated. Cage-free means the birds are housed in barns where they can walk freely, rather than being confined to cages. Free-range means they are not only uncaged, they also have at least some access to the outdoors. And pasture-raised hens are kept outdoors for most of the year and brought indoors at night for protection.
The issue is that there is no mandatory regulation of these terms for egg production. To ensure that these claims are verifiable, that someone is literally watching the hen house, look for products with third-party certifications such as “Certified Humane” or “Animal Welfare Approved.”
Organic
Eggs with the USDA Organic seal come from hens that are raised on organic feed (grown without synthetic pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers) and are free-range (uncaged with outdoor access). Facilities are checked by accredited inspectors.
Hormone-free or antibiotic-free
Hormones or antibiotics are not used in egg production, so these claims are irrelevant, akin to seeing a “fat-free” sticker on a banana.
Vegetarian-feed
This means the chicken’s feed contains no animal byproducts. But because the bird’s natural behavior is to forage for insects, it also implies they have not spent time feeding outdoors.
Pasteurized
These eggs are heated until just below the temperature at which they coagulate so they can be used in recipes that call for raw eggs, like many Caesar dressings, for example.
Omega-3
Eggs enhanced with this good-for-you fat come from hens whose feed is spiked with omega-3 rich ingredients such as flaxseed, marine algae or canola. The eggs contain anywhere from 100 mg to 600 mg omega-3 each, whereas a regular egg has about 30 mg. Although this may offer some benefit, it’s worth noting that the predominant type of omega-3 in eggs is a form that is the considerably less potent (ALA) than that found in fish (DHA and EPA).
Grade
There are three grades bestowed upon eggs by the U.S. Agriculture Department as part of a voluntary quality program: AA, A and B. Grade AA is best, with thick, firm whites, high, round yolks and clean, unbroken shells. Grade A eggs, most commonly found in stores, have the same qualities as AA, but with slightly less firm whites. Grade B, rarely sold retail, are primarily used in prepared egg products.
Color
Different breeds of hens lay different colored eggs, so although brown eggs have a certain healthful visual appeal and blue eggs (which have been popping up more markets) are fun to bring home to wow the kids, they are no different from white in their quality, flavor or nutrition.
