Markings on eggs – how to decode them?
Seemingly an egg is an egg, yet they differ in more ways than just packaging and the number of pieces inside. Are all eggs from happy hens? And if not, how to distinguish them and how properly decipher the markings on the eggs?
Easter is approaching, so it’s worth doing a quick reminder regarding the markings on the eggs we buy in larger quantities during this time. Do you know what specifically the markings on eggs and their packaging symbolize? Do you choose them consciously or grab the first better ones that fall into your hand?
How to decipher the markings on eggs
On each egg available in the store there is a code, which, in simple terms, we can represent with the symbols X – UK – 12345. In the table below we have listed the meaning of each symbol. Knowing them will help you make informed decisions when shopping.
| Symbol | Meaning |
| X | Farming method |
| UK | Country of origin |
| 12345 | Producer ID |
The most important for the consumer is the farming method which we will discuss later in this article.
Way of raising a hen
The first symbol, which denotes the way the hen is raised, can be represented by numbers from 0 to 3; each one means something different.
| The symbol for the farming method | Meaning |
| 0 | organic |
| 1 | free range |
| 2 | barn |
| 3 | caged hens |
“Country eggs”, or misleading names
When choosing eggs, it is important to be vigilant. Some dishonest producers choose to confuse egg packages with names like “country eggs”, “eggs from the homestead” and so on. These are misleading and give the illusion that the eggs come from “happy hens” raised on free range. The reality, unfortunately, is sometimes quite different, and the eggs come from caged hens. That’s why it’s important to check the stamps on the eggs, and not just suggest the description on the package.
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Bibliography:
- https://www.gov.pl/web/wijhars-olsztyn/wymagania-dotyczace-oznakowania-jaj
- Rozporządzenie Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady (UE) nr 1169/2011 z dnia 25 października 2011 r. w sprawie przekazywania konsumentom informacji na temat żywności, zmiany rozporządzeń Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady (WE) nr 1924/2006
- Rozporządzenie komisji (WE) nr 589/2008 z dnia 23 czerwca 2008 r. ustanawiające szczegółowe zasady wykonywania rozporządzenia Rady (WE) nr 1234/2007 w sprawie norm handlowych w odniesieniu do jaj