Cracking the Code on Eggs: Oeko-Test helps you decipher the stamp on your eggs
Ecotest Solves the Mystery Surrounding the Egg
Eggs, a nutritious powerhouse, are a staple in German diets. With per capita consumption reaching 249 eggs per person in 2024 (according to Statista), it's no wonder they're so popular. But what about that confusing stamp on your eggs? Why should you leave those colorful, hard-boiled eggs at the supermarket?
Nutritionists vouch for the health benefits of eggs, rich in all essential amino acids and all vitamins except C. They're a great source of iron, vitamins A, B2, B12, D, and folic acid. However, moderation is key, with the German Society for Nutrition recommending a weekly consumption of one egg per person. Eating well and caring for the environment go hand in hand, after all.
The code of numbers and letters on fresh eggs from the food trade in Germany not only reveals how the hens were kept but also allows for tracking each individual egg back to its farm. Oeko-Test breaks down the decoding process below. This mandatory, uniform labeling of fresh chicken eggs has been in place in the EU since 2004.
Ditch the colorful, hard-boiled eggs at the supermarket
Before diving into the code, a heads up: Avoid those colorfully-dyed hard-boiled eggs you see on store shelves these days. They often sit unrefrigerated for weeks, posing potential health risks.
Q&A Why aren't eggs cooled in stores?Seeing as these eggs aren't labeled and consumers are unaware of their origin, they might hail from cruel battery farming - an almost extinct practice. Some approved food colors contain azo dyes, potentially harmful to children's activity and attention. Oeko-Test advises against consuming such substances.
Here's what the code on the egg stamp reveals:
- First number (1-4): This number indicates the farming method, ranging from organic (0) to battery farming (3). In the case of a 1, the hens are raised in free-range systems.
- Two letters: These letters represent the country of origin.
- Next two numbers: These numbers, assuming the egg is of German origin, denote the federal state. Each EU member state has its own slightly different numbering system for assigning ids to producers and farms, if necessary.
- Four numbers: These numbers indicate the specific farm.
- Last number: This final number denotes the stall from which the egg comes.
Reading the farming method (e.g., 1-DE-0912341):- 0 = organic- 1 = free-range or- 2 = barn- 3 = battery
Reading the country of origin (e.g., 2-DE-0912341):- 01 = Schleswig-Holstein- 02 = Hamburg- 03 = Lower Saxony- 04 = Bremen- 05 = North Rhine-Westphalia- 06 = Hesse- 07 = Rhineland-Palatinate- 08 = Baden-Württemberg- 09 = Bavaria- 10 = Saarland- 11 = Berlin- 12 = Brandenburg- 13 = Mecklenburg-Vorpommern- 14 = Saxony- 15 = Saxony-Anhalt- 16 = Thuringia
To find the farm (e.g., 2-DE-0912341):
Want to know even more about the farm where your eggs come from? Visit the website of the association for controlled alternative animal husbandry (KAT) at was-steht-auf-dem-ei.de and enter the entire egg code. The name of the laying farm, along with its address, will be provided.
So, next time you pick up a carton of eggs, take a closer look at that code and make an informed choice!
Sources:
- ntv.de
- awi
Related Topics:
- Food
- Consumer behavior in Germany
- Consumer protection
- Retail
- Organic food
- Food industry
- Health
- Öko-Test
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- In Germany, the farming method of small and medium-sized undertakings (SMEs) is represented by a '1' in the first number on the egg stamp, indicating that the hens are raised in free-range systems.
- The country of origin for some small and medium-sized undertakings (SMEs) in Germany may be represented by the number '09', which corresponds to Bavaria.
- To learn more about the specific small and medium-sized undertaking (SME) that produced your eggs, you can visit the website was-steht-auf-dem-ei.de and enter the entire egg code, where the name and address of the laying farm will be provided.
