Food Justice Certified: Eggs

Food Justice Certified Label

This label is a relatively recent but comprehensive label for social justice in farming, especially in the US and requires farms to be certified organic as a prerequisite. It would be a top pick if more widely available.

Requires Verification/Inspection

FoodPrint Label Criteria

Animal Feed Quality

Produced without industrial pesticides
Synthetic fertilizers or sewage sludge prohibited
Prohibits animal waste and byproduct
Restricts use of feed supplements*
Prohibits GMOs
*Feed supplements must be non-GMO

Drug Use

Antibiotics only for sick animals or prohibited
Prohibit hormones and other drugs to healthy animals

Environmental and Pasture Quality

Pasture management / rotational grazing plan required
Synthetic fertilizers or sewage sludge prohibited
Grown without industrial pesticides
Biodiversity required in pasture*
Soil health monitored/measured for improvement over time
*Biodiversity required in the pasture if access to pasture is provided

Animal Welfare and Living Conditions

Breed health requirements
Minimum indoor space requirements
Natural light required
Standards for indoor ammonia levels
Outdoor access required*
Pasture access required
Hygiene and manure management addressed
Physical alterations prohibited (debeaking, etc)
Standards for animal wellbeing in transport including maximum duration times
Welfare standards for slaughtering
Prohibits forced molting
Prohibits cages
Requires perches
Requires nest boxes
Dust bathing opportunities*
*Encouraged but not required

Worker Welfare

Standards and protections for workers on farm
Standards and protections for workers in processing plants
Fair/living wages ensured
Health care insurance ensured
Food Label Glossary

For explanations of some of these technical terms, like “rotational grazing” or “sewage sludge fertilizers,” please visit our glossary.

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