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What does the barcode on the egg mean?
Consumption
The numbers that appear marked on the egg indicate the traceability system of the product to the store
What does the code with numbers on the egg mean and what information does it provide? As the dietician-nutritionist Raquel Bernácer explains, fresh eggs sold in the European Union must be marked with a code that identifies, among other things, the origin of the farm.
El first digit that appears in the code that includes the egg informs about the type of hen breeding. Thus, the number 0 identifies that it comes from organic farming chickens, fed with organic feed that comply with the specific regulations for this type of food.
The numbers of the egg
- The number 0 identifies that it comes from organic farming chickens, fed with organic feed that comply with the specific regulations for that type of feed.
- Number 1 reveals that the egg comes from free-range chickens, raised outdoors on farms and pens.
- The number 2 indicates that the hens have been raised on the ground, in large houses and with controlled lighting so that they are more productive.
- The number 3 indicates that these hens have been raised in cages and probably under conditions that are not as healthy as required.
After that first number there are letters that correspond to EU state code where the eggs come from. Thus, “ES” would correspond to Spain. The other two numbers indicate the province code from the origin, then the municipality code, which is indicated with three more numbers and finally, with the last three numbers, the farm identifier code where those eggs come from. Thus, in general lines and as explained by Nuria Varela-Portas, co-founder of the producers of Pazo de Vilane, the egg marking code indicates the traceability system of the product to the store.
Other information that is indicated next to the barcode of the egg is the best before date (which is usually a little less than a month from the laying of the hen).
In addition, if they are not purchased individually, the egg cup must indicate the size from the egg. If you put an “S” it means that the egg weighs less than 53 grams, if it is an “M” it would be between 53 and 63 grams and if it is “L” it would have to be between 63 and 73 grams, as indicated Raquel Bernácer. In the case of an “XL” egg, it would have to exceed 73 grams in weight.