"French", "farmers", "chickens bred in freedom" ... The labels of eggs are numerous on supermarket shelves and we are sometimes a little lost. What you need to know to see more clearly.

The code of the egg gives all indications

On the shell of an egg, there is more information. First of all, on the top line, a figure gives information on the way the chickens are raised, the next two letters indicate the country of origin , the rest identifies the producer. On the bottom line is the recommended consumption date (DCR).

4 digits for 4 types of chicken farming

The first digit. The one that indicates the breeding method is the one you must look at first when you buy eggs.

The number 3 distinguishes "eggs of hens raised in cages". Concretely, this means that the hen has to spend all her life in a cage of the surface of an A4 sheet, without ever seeing the light of day. We zap.

The number 2 corresponds to "eggs of hens raised on the ground". These chickens do not see the light of day but enjoy a space a little bigger since they are not locked in cages but in buildings: digit side, about 9 chickens share 1m2 ... On zap bis

The number 1 identifies "eggs of hens raised in the open air". They are also raised in large buildings but they also benefit from access to the outside and a corner of grass. In this type of breeding, 1 hen enjoys an average of 4m2.

The number 0 indicates "chicken eggs from organic farming". On farms of this type, the total number of hens on the holding is limited to 6000. The hens have access to the outside and are fed 90% of foods of biological origin.

We choose red label eggs or not?

The indication "Red Label" is a guarantee of quality. It is affixed to eggs of hens raised in the open air (and therefore numbered "1"). The label "Red Label" also provides information on the breeding conditions of poultry. The hens are at most 3000 per building, they have access to the outside and their food is made up of 60% minimum of cereals.

To choose the best eggs, there is no point in relying on packaging and marketing. A farm-raised chicken egg is not necessarily from organic farming. To be sure of his choice, we only believe the code and we choose French eggs numbered 0 (the code noted on the shell will start with "0FR"). Especially as the price, the eggs "red label" or "0" are not necessarily more expensive than the others ...