Frequently Asked Questions about Eggland's Eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and answers about Eggland's Best eggs.

Q. Are Eggland’s Best eggs natural eggs?

A. Yes. Eggland’s Best eggs are real whole-shell eggs produced by hens that are fed an all-natural, all-vegetarian diet.

Q. Where are Eggland's Best eggs produced?

A. Eggland's Best eggs are produced by approved licensed producers on farms located throughout the U.S. and the eggs are distributed locally. Producers are selected for their ability to meet the stringent quality standards of Eggland's Best.

Q. Are Eggland’s Best eggs fertile?

A. No. Hens lay eggs naturally and the eggs that go to market are not fertilized. Roosters would need to be in the hen houses in order to produce eggs that are fertilized. We do not have roosters at our farms, so our eggs are never fertilized. Eggs that are fertilized are marketed as such and are a specialty item found only in limited markets.

Q. What is special about feed consumed by flocks producing Eggland’s Best eggs?

A. Eggland's Best hens are fed a strictly controlled, high-quality all-vegetarian diet that contains no animal fat, no animal by-products, and no recycled or processed food commonly found in livestock and poultry feeds. Our all-natural feed contains soybean meal, healthy grains, canola oil and/or flax seed, which are high in Omega 3 fatty acid content, and our Biotene® supplement, a unique all-natural supplement which includes rice bran, alfalfa meal, sea kelp and Vitamin E. Because the unique diet of our hens is nutritionally superior to those fed to other hens, Eggland's Best hens lay nutritionally superior eggs. Eggland's Best eggs and feed program are so special that the U.S. Government has granted the company a patent. (U.S.Patent #5,246,717, Eggs Compatible with Cholesterol-Reducing Diet and Method of Producing the Same.) Each year, the American Vegetarian Association verifies that Eggland’s Best hen feed meets the criteria for their certification.

Q. How does Eggland’s Best make sure its eggs consistently meet its standards?

A. Eggland’s Best eggs are subjected to the most rigorous testing possible. Each year, Eggland’s Best conducts nearly 30,000 laboratory tests to ensure that lower levels of cholesterol and saturated fat and higher levels of Vitamin E, Iodine, and Omega 3 are consistently met. Our scientists also check Eggland’s Best yolks for their consistently rich, yellow color, and they check the overall quality of Eggland’s Best shells to ensure that consumers are getting eggs with the finest, strongest shells possible. Three independent laboratories confirm these results, which repeatedly show that Eggland’s Best eggs exceed USDA specifications. Licensed producers of Eggland’s Best eggs have resident inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspecting the quality of our eggs.

Q. Why are Eggland’s Best eggs imprinted with a logo and is the ink safe?

A. The Eggland’s Best logo identifies eggs which are produced according to a comprehensive management program incorporating feeding, welfare, housing, disease prevention and quality control, required for a wholesome and nutritious product. The logo is applied by stamping machines which use a safe FDA-approved ink, acceptable as a food additive.

Q. Are Eggland’s Best eggs refrigerated before sale?

A. Yes. All Eggland’s Best eggs must be collected from flocks within 24 hours of production. In most operations, eggs are mechanically conveyed to a processing plant within hours of lay to ensure optimal freshness. On remote farms, eggs are collected frequently during the day and are placed in refrigerated compartments and held at 50°F before transfer to a processing plant. After washing, grading and packing, Eggland’s Best eggs are placed in a cooler under USDA supervision and held at a temperature between 40°F and 45°F before distribution in refrigerated vehicles. FDA regulations require eggs to be held under refrigeration from the time of shipping from the plant to the point of consumption.

Q. How are Eggland’s Best egg sizes determined?

A. Size tells you the minimum required net weight per dozen eggs. It does not refer to the dimensions of an egg or how big it looks. While some eggs in the carton may look slightly larger or smaller than the rest, it is the total weight of the dozen eggs that matters. Eggland’s Best strictly follows the USDA specified minimum net weight per dozen eggs for the grades marketed under the Eggland’s Best Brand. For example: A dozen Large eggs must have a total minimum weight of 24 ounces.

USDA Chart
Size or Weight Class	Minimum net weight per dozen
Jumbo	30 ounces
Extra Large	27 ounces
Large	24 ounces
Medium	21 ounces
Small	18 ounces
Peewee	15 ounces

Q. How do I know that the Eggland’s Best eggs I buy are fresh?

A. Each Eggland’s Best pack bears an imprint with a date. There is a difference, though between a SELL-BY date and a USE-BY date..

If it is a SELL-BY date, we suggest that the eggs can be used up to 30 days past that date providing they have been kept refrigerated and are not cracked. If it is a BEST BEFORE (or USE-BY date), the eggs should be used within 2 weeks of that date, providing they have been kept refrigerated and are not cracked.

Q. What does “Organic Eggs” mean?

A. Eggland’s Best organic eggs are derived from hens reared, housed, and fed in compliance with the regulations of the National Organic Program administered by the USDA. This requires strict adherence to rules concerning the source and type of ingredients in diets, housing, freedom from exposure to pesticides, as well as chemicals or substances which are not approved. Hens producing eggs under the National Organic Program are allowed free access to the entire area of their houses and have access to the outside, subject to acceptable climatic conditions and risk of disease exposure.

Q. What does “Cage-Free” mean?

A. Eggland’s Best Cage-Free eggs are derived from hens which are allowed to move freely within their house either on a combination of litter and slat flooring or in an aviary structure. In both of the housing systems, feed and water is provided continuously. Nests are provided for the flock from which eggs are collected either manually or on a mechanical belt.

Q. How is Eggland’s Best protecting consumers?

A. Eggland’s Best eggs come from healthy flocks that are continuously monitored for any type of disease. The processing of our eggs involves decontamination of the shell surface in a warm sanitizing solution, which effectively destroys any viral and bacterial contamination. All Eggland’s Best production facilities exceed Federal standards of bio-security, which are designed to prevent introduction of infection into the flocks.

Eggland’s Best takes extra precaution to ensure the health of its flocks by vaccinating hens three times during the first four months of life to protect them against contracting salmonella and other diseases. Eggland’s Best audits the farms and processing plants of its production facilities to ensure compliance with Best Management Procedures, which significantly reduce the probability of infection and maintain the health and productivity of flocks. If, by some rare occurrence, eggs should become contaminated with any type of bacteria/virus, it would not survive the temperatures associated with food preparation, including boiling, baking, frying, and scrambling of eggs.

Q. Is it safe to eat Eggland's Best eggs raw?

A. The risk of salmonella poisoning from eggs is small, but this does not take away the need for extra precautionary steps when preparing eggs for recipes calling for raw or lightly-cooked eggs. Many recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs can be revised with a cooking step. Whole eggs, yolks, or whites can be combined with sugar, water or another liquid from the recipe can be cooked over low heat until the mixture coats a metal spoon with a thin film or reaches 160° F.

Q. Are Eggland’s Best eggs kosher?

A. Yes. The Orthodox Union, the largest kosher certification organization in the world, certifies Eggland’s Best eggs as kosher. Each Eggland’s Best carton carries the OU symbol to clearly identify it as kosher.

Q. Where can I buy Eggland’s Best eggs?

A. You can find Eggland’s Best eggs in the egg section of dairy cases in grocery stores across the country. If you are unable to find Eggland’s Best eggs in your local store, ask your dairy manager, and then please give us a call at our toll-free telephone number: (800) 922-EGGS (3447) or e-mail us here.

Click here for a list of local supermarkets that carry Eggland’s Best eggs.

Q. What do I do if I’m not satisfied with my Eggland’s Best product?

A. Any complaints regarding appearance, quality, taste or any other abnormality should be reported to Eggland’s Best using our toll free number (800) 922-EGGS (3447) or by e-mail here.

Eggland's Best Eggs