All the eggs you buy at the supermarket have a code on the shell.
This code is a mine of information for choosing the right eggs!
But you still need to know what it corresponds to...
...and above all know how to decipher it.
Fortunately, here is a simple and practical guide to easily read the code printed on egg shells.
This guide is the best way to choose your eggs according to what you are looking for. Watch:
The first digit of the code indicates the mode of production and the conditions in which the hens are raised:
- Code 0: it means that the hens are raised in the open air in organic farming. The hens are fed with organic feed and have 2.5 m2 of land each.
- Code 1: the hens are raised in the open air. Each hen has at least 2.5 m2 of land outside.
- Code 2: the hens are kept on the floor. Hens do not go outside, but they do not live locked in cages. There should be no more than 9 hens per m2.
- Code 3: the hens are kept in cages (in batteries). They are kept in cages all day with up to 18 hens per m2.
The 2 letters that follow indicate the country of origin. If it's FR, it means that the eggs come from hens raised in France. If the letters are UK, it means your eggs are from the UK.
Finally, the letters and numbers that follow identify the breeding site and the building. Here, on a French egg, it is composed of 3 letters for the breeding site followed by 2 digits for the building number.
There you go, you now know how to crack the code on chicken eggs :-)
It's much more practical to choose your eggs, isn't it?
Now you can make delicious recipes with your eggs!
Know that since January 1, 2004, each box has the obligation to mention the characteristics of the type of breeding.
And even if your eggs are sold without packaging, on the market for example, the marking must appear on the shell of the egg:that is to say a number (0, 1, 2 or 3) before the letters FR .
You do not understand much about all these mysterious writings on the boxes of eggs sold in supermarkets?
In addition to the code that indicates how the hens are raised and the letters that indicate the country, there are a whole bunch of indications.
Fortunately, with this simple little guide, deciphering egg cartons becomes easy!
- Category A or B:
Have you ever heard of class or category A or B eggs?
- Category A eggs are intended for private consumption. They are neither washed nor cleaned before or after grading. These are the eggs you find in supermarkets, grocery stores or in markets.
- Grade B eggs are intended for the food and non-food industry.
- The size:
On the boxes of grade A eggs, we can often read "large eggs, "medium egg"...
These expressions actually refer to specific standards:
-XL :for very large eggs weighing 73 g or more.
-L :for large eggs weighing more than or equal to 63 g and less than 73 g.
-M :for medium eggs weighing more than or equal to 53 g and less than 63 g.
-S :for small eggs weighing less than 53 g.
- The date:
This is a date of minimum durability . This is the date until which the eggs retain all their properties when stored in good conditions.
This date is set up to 28 days after the date of laying. But be aware that we cannot sell you eggs that were laid more than 21 days ago.
- What about extra or extra fresh eggs?
This is an additional indication that may appear on the boxes up to the ninth day after laying. In this case, the laying date and the nine-day deadline must appear on the box.
- Breeding method:
As we saw above, the code 0, 1, 2 or 3 must appear on the box to indicate how the hens are raised.
Find all the official information on egg labeling here. Very practical to avoid being fooled!
