Not just for Easter – All about egg packaging
Easter time is egg time. But not all eggs are the same. The packaging reveals the differences. A little egg knowledge.
There are binding regulations throughout the EU on how eggs have to be marked. A stamp code on the eggs is mandatory. And the packaging must contain information on the number of eggs, the quality grade, weight grade, best-before date, the packing centre number and the consumer advice “Store at refrigerator temperature” or “Cool at 5 to 8 degrees Centigrade”.
Only grade A eggs are available on the market. This stands for “fresh”. In terms of weight grades, retailers follow the example of the textile industry. The grades start with S (an egg weighing less than 53 grams) and end with XL (more than 73 grams).
The packing centre number does not reveal where the eggs come from, but only where they were packed, emphasises the Federal Consumer Centre. The packing centre number serves the control authorities for the traceability of the eggs. Whoever wants to know in which country the eggs were produced, must look at the stamp code on the egg. The stamp code on the eggshell indicates the origin of the eggs and the type of farming. The code provides information on the type of farming, the country of origin and the farm producing the eggs.
