we’re here to unscramble the egg
To become UEP Certified Cage-Free or learn more about UEP Certified, please complete the Contact Us Form.
UEP Certified works with producers and retailers to support steady, practical decisions as conditions change. Regulations shift, customer expectations continue to evolve and day-to-day operations still have to run.
Our standards come from long experience in egg production and are built to be used in working farms, providing a clear way to move forward.
The UEP Certified Cage-Free seal reflects more than 50 years in the industry.
It includes:
The UEP Certified Cage-Free seal allows you to move forward with confidence. We helped build the path to cage-free, and we continue to guide the way forward.
This isn’t new for us. We’ve been at it for decades.
wisdom and experience
independent scientific advisory committee
Maximized Hen Welfare
An egg’s quality starts with the hen, and the hen starts with the farmer.
Understand what “cage-free” means and why it should matter.
Get the cage-free facts straight.
Cage-free gets talked about a lot. Learn what it looks like in practice.
Get the clarity you need to move forward. Talk with our team about how UEP Certified fits your operation.
*This content is updated on a semi-regular basis. Last updated 11/18/2025.
SCRAMBLED NO MORE
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 maintained guidelines and the assurance of maximizing hen welfare at minimal cost.
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.
