How to Tell if You’re Paying Too Much for Eggs, According to an Expert

This year, you may have found yourself thinking about where you buy eggs more than ever before. With rising egg prices, shortages caused by Avian influenza A viruses, and multiple recent recalls for potential salmonella contamination, there’s a lot to consider.

And with so many brands claiming to have superior eggs, how can you be sure you’re truly getting your money’s worth? In a recent social media video, one commercial agriculture expert offered a grocery store tip. This trick will help you determine if the egg brand you’re shelling out those hard-earned dollars for is really worth the cost. 

How To Find the Best Egg Price, According to Experts

Last month, Texas-based farmer and business owner Matt Hamilton shared a clutch egg-buying tip on TikTok—and it might surprise you. As the video begins, Hamilton walks to the egg section and says, “I’m going to teach you how to read an egg license number and how to see who really raised the eggs that you’re buying at the grocery store.”

Hamilton picks up egg cartons from a variety of brands and points to the state-issued number located near the safe-handling instructions on the back of the packaging. “23429 is the most popular number,” Hamilton says, referring to his local selection. He continues to say that despite the labels’ differences, many eggs share the same producer, which in this case is Cal-Maine Foods, one of the largest egg suppliers in the United States.

Hamilton reports that of all the brands he checked, Vital Farms eggs were one of the few that had a different egg license number than the majority of those in stock. As the video wraps up, the farmer encourages shoppers to be aware of these numbers because they give insight into the egg’s origin and whether or not the higher-priced products are actually coming from a separate producer.

In addition, the TikToker says shoppers should be mindful of the sustainability label wording. For example, cartons may list “outdoor access” for hens as a selling point, but this is a broad term that some consumers may not realize differs from “pasture-raised.”

It’s important to note that while the egg license numbers across brands may be the same, it does not mean that all the eggs sold by a single producer are identical. For example, larger facilities can have split organic and non-organic egg productions running simultaneously as long as they have an Organic System Plan (OSP) and follow U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.

To ensure you’re getting the best deal, always check prices across retailers and reach out to individual companies for the most accurate information about where your eggs are coming from. In addition, check with local suppliers and farmers, as they may have knowledge about the specific prices in your area.