free range chickens

Organic vs Free-Range – What’s the Difference?

June 20, 2025 | Source: Soil Asssociation

Free-range, caged, barn eggs or organic?

Egg labelling can be confusing and sometimes it’s hard to know what the difference is and which type of egg is the most ethical.

So what makes organic eggs different to free-range?

There are five key differences between organic and free-range standards. Soil Association’s organic standards cover:

  1. the size of the flock (number of hens)
  2. the amount of space, and type of environment animals have
  3. the way they are treated
  4. what they are fed
  5. use of antibiotics

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