Etiquetas de huevos comparadas
What each label on the carton means for space, outdoors and feed
Actualizado
Por qué comparar estos
The supermarket egg shelf, explained. Each label promises something different about cages, outdoor access, space per hen and feed, and the rules differ between the EU (a code stamped on every egg) and the US (mostly certifiers).
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1
C
Conventional (caged)
Hens in cages; in the EU only enriched cages (code 3).
Lowest price, least space
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2
C
Cage-free / barn
Hens move freely inside a barn but don't have to go outside (EU code 2).
Out of cages, still indoors
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3
F
Free-range
Hens have access to the outdoors; how much depends on the country or certifier (EU code 1).
Some outdoor access
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4
P
Pasture-raised
No government definition in the US; certifiers such as Certified Humane set 108 sq ft of pasture per hen.
Most outdoor space (when certified)
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5
O
Organic
Organic feed, no antibiotics, outdoor access (USDA Organic; EU code 0).
Organic feed, outdoor access
Compara lado a lado
| Conventional (caged) | Cage-free / barn | Free-range | Pasture-raised | Organic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||||
| Cages | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Outdoor access | No | Not required | Yes | Yes, on pasture | Yes |
| EU egg code (stamped on the shell) | 3 | 2 | 1 | – (often sold as 1 or 0) | 0 |
| Space | |||||
| EU minimum | 750 cm² per hen in an enriched cage | 9 hens per m² indoors | 4 m² outdoors per hen | – | 4 m² outdoors per hen |
| US rule | No federal minimum | No federal minimum | USDA: outdoor access, no size set | No USDA definition | USDA Organic: outdoor access |
| Certified Humane standard | Not certified | 1.5 sq ft per hen indoors | 2 sq ft per hen outdoors | 108 sq ft per hen outdoors | – |
| Feed | |||||
| Organic feed | No | No | No | Not required | Yes |
| Antibiotics allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Depends on certifier | No |
| Buying | |||||
| Usual price | Lowest | Low | Medium | Highest | High |
Cómo se mide
EU rules from Regulation 589/2008 and Directive 1999/74/EC, US terms from USDA, certifier standards from Certified Humane.
Referencias
- EU egg marketing rules, USDA, Certified Humane, EU, USDA, HFAC (facts). Checked 2026-10-19 18:50 UTC.
- Marketing standards for eggs, Regulation (EC) No 589/2008, European Union, Annex, codes 0-3.
- Council Directive 1999/74/EC on laying hens, European Union, cage and barn space.
- Shell eggs from farm to table, USDA FSIS.
- Free range and pasture raised officially defined for eggs, Humane Farm Animal Care.
También en
Foto: Free eggs carton image, CC0 via rawpixel. Pictures in rows: Wikimedia Commons, GitHub and the linked pages.