Are “Free-Range” and “Cage-Free” Eggs Actually Better? We’ve Cracked the Code

Some of the labels you see on a carton of eggs may refer to similar-sounding, or even the same, things (if a chicken is “pasture-raised” isn’t it also “free-range”?), but there are big differences in how the hens laying your eggs are treated. Here, we break down the difference between the three most common labels for eggs in the grocery store.

When eggs are labeled “cage-free,” it means that the chickens who laid those eggs (“layer hens”) live in an open indoor space. Per the USDA, “Eggs labeled ‘cage-free’… are laid by hens that are allowed to roam in a room or open area, which is typically a barn or poultry house.” This is a big departure from decades past when hens raised in cages was a more prevalent practice. While there is no federal legislation banning the use of cages, many states have either banned their use entirely or required that farms phase them out. 

‘Free-range’ eggs were laid by hens with access to the outdoors. While this label is regulated by the USDA, there are very few guidelines in place governing what “access to the outdoors” means in practice. Look for labels from third-party regulators like Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC). They work to ensure the quality of life of farm animals, including ensuring eggs labeled ‘free-range’ come from hens who have meaningful access to the outdoors (i.e., the hens actually go outdoors, as opposed to these simply being an opening in their housing that hens may or may not be able to access due to overcrowding) and that farms follow their standards for humane care. 

Pasture-raised eggs offer the best quality of life for layer hens that we’ve covered here. Although this term is not regulated by the USDA, you can rely on labels from the HFAC or American Humane Farm Program to indicate that hens are given a minimum of 108 square feet of outdoor space to roam in addition to indoor housing. Hens have room to move, engage in natural behaviors, and have access to fresh air and sunshine.