Eggs in Poland

It’s taken awhile, but I’ve finally figured out the egg labeling in Poland. Most eggs are stamped with a code that tells the consumer how and where the eggs were produced.

The first digit identifies the production process:

• — 0 – organic
• — 1 – free range
• — 2 – barn
• — 3 – cage

Then comes a two letter country identifier and finally an 8 digit code that identifies the farm.

Eggs are making news in Europe at the moment. The European Union passed a law in 2000 banning battery cages. These cages are so cramped that it’s not possible for the hens to flap their wings or roost. Member countries were given 12 years to comply; the deadline was the beginning of this year. Egg producers in the UK have recently achieved 100% compliance. This doesn’t mean they aren’t raising the laying hens in cages anymore, the cages are just bigger. Replacing the battery cages with larger ones, of course, means the farmers incurred expense that will be passed along to the consumers.

Here’s the problem. The law had no penalty! Seventeen member countries have yet to comply. Poland being one of the 17. Those in the British egg industry worry that cheaper egg from other countries will make their way into Britain and be chosen by consumers looking for a bargain.

Lois Britton

An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com,  she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.