Organic Eggs NJ - How Can I be Sure an Egg is Organic?

You see lots of organic labels on food when you hit the supermarket, from fruits to veggies to chips. But organic egg cartons are perhaps the most confusing of them all when it comes to the label. Organics are going through the roof. In fact, sales of organic products were estimated at 35 billion in 2014 alone, resulting in more than four percent of total food sales in this country, says the USDA. Eggs and dairy represent a major piece of that pie, with only produce claiming a bigger piece.

When you buy a carton of organic eggs at the market, how can you be sure they’re really organic or even healthy? You can tell if an egg is good or not…just take a look at the yolk when you crack it. Is the yolk a light yellow color? The hen it came from was not fed a healthy diet. It was also likely kept from getting sufficient sunlight too. Sunlight is a critical part of healthy egg production, one playing just as big a part as diet. Does the yolk have a dark orange color? The hen was fed a healthy diet of organic feed and grass, living within a natural environment with plenty of sunlight on a regular basis.

When you look in your fridge and see a carton of organic eggs that’s been in there awhile, you may worry that they’re no good. A definitive way to test your egg, with no need to shake, smell, crack or cook it – is to place the egg in a pot of cold water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lay flush against the pot. Bad eggs will rise to the top with more buoyancy. Food writer Hannah Glass first gave us this useful information back in the 18th century and it still holds true today. Go ahead, you know you want to try it!

If you’ve ever wondered what organic really means and are confused while standing in the egg aisle, the label should clearly state “organic.” But, there are so many different options at the grocery store that it can get pretty confusing. Conventional eggs are the common ones you see at every supermarket. On higher shelves, you’ll find organic eggs, which come from hens that are not given antibiotics, growth hormones, additives, animal byproducts or GMOs. Rather, they were given organic feed with access to the outdoors. Prior to a label being “organic,” the USDA must inspect the farms where the eggs are coming from.

Take a look at the Julian Date, which indicates the day of the year that the eggs were cleaned and packed. It’s best to choose a date within a few days to a week of your purchase so you know you’re getting the safest eggs possible.

Look to CMC Food - The Farmers Hen to be your trusted supplier of organic eggs.