Don’t Be Chicken: Varieties of Eggs

Going to the market to buy a dozen eggs is a very different experience today because of all the choices available, but do you know one good egg from another? According to the American Egg Board, 75 billion eggs are produced each year in the US, consumers purchase 60% of these eggs. This type of protein is available to consumers in pasteurized, organic, cage free, vegetarian and nutrient rich crates of 12. They all offer benefits depending on what your take is on healthier.

Don’t know about you, but with all the choices, pricing and flavor innovations at the grocery store I, could be there for hours, even after I devise what I believe to be a great list.

Below is a the breakdown of different types of eggs and companies who produce them:

1. Cage Free – Eggland offers a sustainable forestry initiative and recycles their cartons in addition to offering consumers cage free eggs and chickens more places to roam.
2. Nutrient Rich – Nature’s Yoke – In addition to the hens all natural diet of soy and other grains, they are fed flax seeds to boost the Omega 3 level. The company also supports small farm sustainability.
3. Organic – Organic Valley provides organic stewardship of the land, which fosters healthy soils, clean water and diverse, vibrant ecosystems.
4. Pasteurized – Safe Eggs devised The Safest Choice™ patented, all natural, award-winning egg pasteurization process which eliminates the risk of Salmonella in eggs before the eggs even enter your kitchen. They also sell packaged hard-boiled eggs so you don’t even have to boil the egg! Now that’s innovative.
5. Vegetarian – Egg Innovations – Their vegetarian brown eggs are laid by free range and cage free chickens fed exclusively vegetarian grain with added flax seed rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. The feed is also free of hormones and antibiotics. Keep an eye on Hampton Creek Farms – They offer a plant based egg product substitute free of animal products for vegetarians, vegans and anyone who may be allergic, etc.

Let’s not forget about the brown egg vs. white egg conundrum, which in reality like white vs. brown sugar–there are no differences in the health benefits. What sets each apart is the type of chicken laying the egg. Brown eggs seem to cost more because the chicken cost more to raise.

For all of you readers are farm adventure seekers and DIY’ers, there is also a company called Rent the Chicken. You can rent them from May until November and collect your own eggs.