Here’s how to tell if you’re eating the best eggs possible, according to an egg farmer

So you finally decoded the (many) labels you can find on an egg carton—no, natural doesn’t always mean better, and opting for brown eggs won’t score you the same benefits as choosing brown rice over white—and landed on organic equals healthy. Seems reasonable, right?

Well, spoiler alert: The “organic” label doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting the best eggs money can buy (cue shocked gasps). According to Jesse Laflamme, owner and chief executive farmer at Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs®, judging the quality of an egg is a little more nuanced than looking at one label.

“Believe it or not, a factory farm housing millions of hens can still bear the USDA Organic seal.”

“It all boils down to the farm,” Laflamme explains. “Believe it or not, a factory farm housing millions of hens can still bear the USDA Organic seal. At Pete and Gerry’s, we take pride in the quality of our organic, free-range eggs from our small family farms. Our company is committed to small-scale farming because we are dedicated to the humane treatment of animals, sustainability, and the restoration of the small family farm to the American landscape.”

So how exactly does that translate to the egg you’re adding to the top of your avo toast? We put together this handy chart to help you in your search for the best organic eggs possible.

Scroll down for all the deets on how to find the best organic eggs, with intel straight from an egg farmer.

In partnership with Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs®

Top photo: Stocksy/Nadine Greef