we’re here to unscramble the egg
We exist to help producers and retailers navigate the shifting landscape of consumer demand and government regulation. Our deep industry roots and rigorous standards of care help make your egg decisions a little easier.
The UEP Certified Cage-Free seal carries the wisdom of over 50 years of hands-on egg production experience, the integrity of independently established guidelines and the guarantee of minimized hen welfare costs.
wisdom and experience
independent scientific advisory committee
lower cost
An egg is only as good as the hen that laid it. And a hen is only as good as the farmer who raised it.
Some certifications use the phrase ‘cage-free.’ We defined it.
Get the cage-free facts straight.
*This content is updated on a semi-regular basis. Last updated 8/28/2024.
SCRAMBLED NO MORE: FAQ TO HATCH THE FACTS
Cage-free eggs come from hens with a higher standard of care. Those standards include wider freedom of movement and the ability to express natural behaviors such as nesting, dustbathing and perching. Certifications like ours ensure eggs labeled cage-free meet those standards.
The UEP Certified Cage-Free seal carries the wisdom of over 50 years of hands-on egg production experience, the integrity of independently established guidelines and the guarantee of minimized hen welfare costs.
As the organization representing 90% of U.S. egg producers, we’ve got the resources to make your egg decisions easier. While “best” may be subjective, hen welfare isn’t. And our approach to hen welfare is objectively good for the whole industry.
The layer industry prioritizes hen welfare. Growing consumer awareness, pressure from activist groups, state laws and demand for responsibly raised hens have led to the introduction of standards and certifications like “cage-free.”
Visit our contact page and get in touch. Seriously, we’re happy to talk. There are several cage-free certifications and while we’d be happy to introduce you to our peers (we’re all friends), we truly believe our own standards and practices are best.
Ask your supplier which certification they utilize. Then, research the organization. You can typically find guidelines on their website. Make sure to inquire about third-party audits — how they are conducted, how often, and what the process is if there is a non-conformance — to ensure certification is based on regular and independent inspections. At UEP Certified, randomized annual third-party audits ensure producer compliance and a zero-tolerance policy for willful abuse is strictly enforced.
There is no official list of egg brand ratings; however, we’re partial to producers who follow UEP Certified guidelines.
While we don’t sell eggs, we’d be happy to steer you in the right direction. See above for an up-to-date list of UEP Certified Cage-Free producers.
