The numbers on eggs: what they tell you
Have you ever noticed it? The code on your breakfast egg? This combination of letters and numbers has a very special meaning and gives consumers lots of information about the origin of an egg. You’ll find all the information you need to know about the numbers on eggs and how to decipher them in this article.
The key points
- The code on eggs provides information about the production method, the country of origin and the producer farm.
- The first number indicates the production method: 0 = organic, 1 = free range, 2 = barn farming, 3 = cage farming.
- The country code indicates in which EU member state the egg was produced (e.g. DE for Germany, AT for Austria).
- The farm number enables precise traceability back to the barn.
- Proper storage with modern technology ensures longer freshness and optimum quality of the eggs.
The origin of eggs and their code – the first number
The different production systems are labelled and distinguished by the following numbers:
O=Organic production
With “organic production”, the laying hens must not be kept in cages. In addition, the barn must have perches and at least one third of it must be littered. No more than six animals per barn are allowed to scratch within one square metre – in addition, each hen must have at least four square metres of space to exercise in.
1=Free-range production
With free-range production, the hens can exercise outdoors during the day in addition to having a barn with perches, nests and bedding. Each hen must have at least four square metres of space to exercise in.
2=Barn farming
At least one square metre of floor space must be available to nine animals. The hens can lay their eggs in nests that are laid out over several levels. In addition, at least a third of the barn must be littered so the animals can scratch around in it.
3=Cage farming
Since 2012, laying hens in the EU have only been allowed to be kept in what are known as furnished cages with at least 750 cm² of space. These are types of cages that have a nest, perch and bedding.
Country code on the egg – what it means
The label indicating the production system is followed by an abbreviation that identifies the EU country of origin in which the egg was produced.
- AT=Austria
- BE=Belgium
- CZ=Czech Republic
- DE=Germany
- DK=Denmark
- FR=France
- NL=Netherlands
- PL=Poland
This is followed by two digits that indicate the German state:
- 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-Western Pomerania
- 14 Saxony
- 15 Saxony-Anhalt
- 16 Thuringia
Numbers on eggs: what they mean
each EU member state has a system in which an individual number is assigned to producer farms. This farm number, together with the barn number (this is the last digit), allows the origin of the egg to be traced from its sale to the barn. More places can be added to identify flocks or barns.
But it’s not just the egg’s origin that matters – storing it correctly also plays a major role in dictating its freshness and quality. Eggs are in the best place when they’re stored in Liebherr fridges. With precise temperature control and the latest refrigeration technology, such as BioFresh, they stay fresh for longer. The appliances have special shelves or egg trays that enable them to be stored safely and clearly. Uniform cooling and the ideal level of humidity prevent eggs from deteriorating prematurely. This means you’ll always enjoy fresh eggs with the best flavour!
What do the numbers and figures on eggs mean: example of a German producer code
0=Organic production
DE=Germany
05 1234 5=farm number, with the first two digits identifying the German state (in this case: North Rhine-Westphalia) and the third to sixth digits the farm. The seventh digit in the number on the egg tells you the barn in which the hen that laid the egg lives.
