Since January 2004, it has been mandatory for eggs and their packaging to be labeled according to the farming system . This also applies to eggs from caged hens.
On the packaging it says either
- Eggs from organic production
- Eggs from free-range farming
- Eggs from barn eggs
- Eggs from cage rearing (optional addition: small group rearing)
Egg code
The eggs are labeled with a code, e.g. 1 DE-23457, where the first digit stands for the farming system:
0 = eggs from organic production
1 = free-range eggs
2 = barn eggs
3 = cage eggs
This is followed by the country code, which indicates where the egg comes from (e.g. DE for Germany). The country code is followed by the identification number that codes the farm.
Laying hens kept in cages suffer from considerable animal welfare problems. Free-range hens, on the other hand, are kept under conditions that take their behaviour and needs into account. Conventional barn farming does not meet these requirements to the same extent. Free-range eggs are only a few cents more expensive and yet you can do a lot for animal welfare.
What you can do
- Only buy organic eggs, free-range or barn eggs with the animal welfare label "Für Mehr Tierschutz" or eggs from farmers who have joined the NEULAND association for animal-friendly and environmentally friendly livestock farming.
- When buying ready-made products, also make sure that eggs from species-appropriate husbandry systems have been used.
- Look for vegan alternatives - eggs can easily be replaced by bananas or soy flour, especially when baking. You can find other ingredients that you can use to replace eggs here. A plant-based diet without animal-based foods is the most consistent way to improve animal welfare.
