Unfortunately, this is not true. Farm eggs and store-bought eggs differ significantly in nutritional content. As you have probably already guessed, the farm eggs win this contest hands-down. Why? It is mainly due to the diet of the hens that produce the eggs.
Hens that are raised on small farms spend much of their time freely roaming pastures and finding their own food. Their diet is varied and includes seeds, insects, worms, and greens. These foods provide a wider variety of nutrients than the processed pellets that are fed to factory chickens (think “chicken chow”). As a result, there are more nutrients in the eggs. For example:
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Farm-fresh eggs can have up to 20 times more omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally raised eggs.
- Vitamins: Farm eggs have more vitamins A, D, and E, sometimes a lot more. They also have seven times more beta-carotene, which contributes to the deeper yolk color.
- Cholesterol and Saturated Fat: Farm-fresh eggs often contain less cholesterol and saturated fat than store-bought eggs.
- Protein: Some studies suggest that farm eggs may have slightly more protein per egg compared to store-bought varieties.
It should be noted simply being organic does not guarantee better nutritional value. An organic egg could well have been raised on a factory farm and fed “chicken chow.” So, for better nutrition, buy your eggs from small local farms if at all possible.