Eggs FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about eggs.

Are the eggs at the grocery store fresh?

Eggs available at grocery stores across the province are fresh, and almost all of them are from local egg farmers right here in Alberta.

Most eggs typically arrive at the grocery store within about a week of the time they are laid on farm, stopping only briefly at the grading station before hitting the grocery store shelves.

How long do eggs last past the 'best before' date on the carton?

Raw shell eggs will keep in the refrigerator without significant quality loss for up to three weeks after the Best Before Date stamped on the carton.

Keep your eggs as fresh as possible by storing them in the main body of the fridge (not on the door) in their original carton.

Is it safe to keep eggs on the counter, instead of in the fridge?

In order to keep the eggs their freshest and fresh for longer, they should be stored in the main body of the refrigerator, in their original carton.

How can I tell if my eggs are fresh?

The easiest way to tell if your eggs are fresh is by checking the Best Before Date on the carton, which is just one of the reasons why it’s important to keep eggs stored in their original carton.

If you drop an egg into water, a fresh egg will sink, while an older egg will float.  As an egg ages, the air cell inside increases, which causes it to float.

What does Grade-A mean?

Grade-A eggs have a clean and uncracked shell, a round and centered yolk, a firm white, and a small air cell.  Grade-A eggs are the ones sold at grocery stores for Canadians to enjoy.

Grade-B eggs are sold for commercial baking or for future processing, while Grade-C eggs are only used in the production of processed egg products.

Why do some eggs have dark yolks and other have pale yolks?

Yolk color is entirely dependent on the type of feed the hens eat.  Wheat-based feed tends to produce lighter yolks, while corn-based feed tends to produce darker yolks.

The yolk color does not affect the flavor, quality, or nutritional value of the eggs.

What is the difference between white eggs and brown eggs?

The only difference between white and brown eggs is the color of the hen that laid that laid them; white hens lay white eggs and brown hens lay brown eggs.

There is no nutritional difference between regular white and brown eggs.

What are Nest Laid and Comfort Coop eggs?

Nest Laid and Comfort Coop eggs are two examples of eggs that are laid by hens living in a furnished housing system.  The nutritional value of these eggs is the same as regular white or brown eggs.

What are free-run and free-range eggs?

Free-run eggs are laid by hens living in a free-run housing system, while free-range eggs are laid by hens living in a free-range housing system.  The nutritional value of free-run and free-range eggs is the same as regular white or brown eggs.

What are organic eggs?

To be classified organic, the hens that lay the eggs must be housed in a free-range housing system and must be fed only feed that is certified organic, meaning the crops were grown without the use or herbicides or pesticides.

What are Omega-3 eggs?

Omega-3 eggs are from hens that are fed about 10-20% more flaxseed, so they produce eggs containing a higher level of omega-3 fatty acids.

A single Omega-3 egg contains approximately 1/4 – 1/3 of the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acid.

Why do my eggs smell fishy?

Omega-3 eggs can sometimes have a fishy smell, since they are laid by hens that are fed 10-20% more flaxseed, which naturally contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based type of omega-3 fatty acid.

The chemical structure of omega-3 fatty acid is such that it has a distinct smell, which is why fish – which typically have a high omega-3 fatty acid content – smells the way it does.

There are so many different eggs at the grocery store - how do I decide which ones to buy?

All the eggs available at the grocery store are fresh, nutritious, and locally produced by farmers who adhere to mandatory on-farm food safety and animal care programs.

Other than eggs that are fed a special diet (ie: Omega-3 eggs), the nutritional content of all the eggs is the same.

Eggs are classified based on either the housing system the hens live in (ie: free-run and free-range), or the feed they are provided (ie: Omega-3 and vitamin enhanced).

Are eggs healthy? Are eggs good for me?

Eggs are one of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods.  One large egg contains 6g of the highest quality protein, many vitamins and minerals, and only 70 calories.

What nutrients are in an egg?

The egg yolk provides 3/4 of the calories, all/most of the fat, phosphorous, iron, zinc, vitamins B6, B12 and A, folic acid, pantothenic acid, choline and thiamin, and about half the protein and riboflavin of the whole egg.  The rest of the nutrients are found in the white.


An egg yolk contains only 195 mg of cholesterol and 5g of fat, of which 1.5g is saturated fats.

Should I limit the number of eggs I eat because of the cholesterol in them?

There is no reason for a healthy, low-risk person to limit their egg consumption.

The cholesterol in eggs is dietary cholesterol, which has little effect on most people’s blood cholesterol.  Excess saturated and trans fats are far more concerning than dietary cholesterol.

Is there a chance that an egg I bought is fertilized? Could a baby chick hatch from one of my eggs?

Absolutely not!

Just like humans, both a rooster (boy) and hen (girl) are required to create a baby chick.  That’s why egg farmers only raise hens, to eliminate the risk of fertilization.

Don’t forget to check our other FAQ pages:

Egg Farmers of Alberta FAQ

Egg Industry FAQ

Egg Farming FAQ


If you are unable to find the answer to a question you have, please try our Ask an Egg Farmer page, or contact us.