Nutrition ·
Egg Stamp Codes 0, 1, 2 and 3: What Do They Mean?
Hello dear friends. 🥚 The first digit of the code stamped on an egg tells you how the hens were kept: 0 organic, 1 free range, 2 barn, 3 cages. The letters and numbers after it tell you the country and the farm the egg came from. In other words, that small stamp is the egg’s short story.
If you live in Turkey or are visiting Istanbul, you will see codes with TR in them. In the EU you will find the same system with another country code. I love watching our hens wander across the field, and perhaps that is why it matters to me to know where an egg comes from and how. I based this post on the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Turkish egg regulation.
The first digit: how the hens are kept
The first digit tells you the farming method, in other words what kind of life the hen leads:
- 0: organic production.
- 1: free range. The hens have access to an outdoor area.
- 2: barn. The hens are not in cages; they are kept inside the henhouse.
- 3: cages.
In Turkey, stamping this code on the shell became mandatory with a change to the egg regulation on 24 November 2017. The Ministry gave a clear reason: labels such as “village eggs” or “natural eggs” were misleading shoppers. The EU uses the same four digits in its egg marketing rules, and so does the UK. That is why the digit on the shell is a safer guide than the pretty words on the box.
TR and the numbers after it
TR and the numbers after it tell you where the egg came from. After the first digit comes the country code: TR for Turkey. In Turkey the next two digits are the province’s licence plate code, for example 34 for Istanbul or 06 for Ankara. Then comes a number unique to the farm and the henhouse. It lets anyone trace the egg back to where it was laid.
The Ministry gives this example: 0TR060000060000-01. Here 0 means organic, TR means Turkey and 06 means Ankara. The rest identifies the farm and the henhouse. In EU countries the idea is the same: the digit, a two-letter country code such as DE or NL, then the farm’s ID. Once you have read one, the rest comes easily, does it not?
Where is the code printed?
The code is stamped on the shell itself. Turkish rules say it must be easy to see, legible and at least 2 mm high. On Class A eggs the laying date may also be printed, but this is optional. The stamp can be small or faint, so hold the egg in your palm and turn it slowly in good light. In the EU, the rules also ask for an explanation of the code on the pack or next to eggs sold loose.
Reading the stamp when you shop
When you read the stamp while shopping, a few small things are worth keeping in mind:
- A box that says “free-range” or “village eggs” is making a claim. The first digit on the shell is the official information.
- A code 1 egg is not organic. Code 1 means free range; organic eggs carry code 0.
- With code 0 eggs, you can also look for the organic logo and certification details on the pack. In Turkey this is the national “Organik Tarım” logo; in the EU it is the green EU organic leaf.
- If you cannot find a stamp, you can ask the seller. It is a fair question.
Şifa Köyü eggs
At Şifa Köyü, our organic farm in Şile on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul, our hens roam the open field. They eat the farm’s organic vegetables and grains. They scratch at the soil and wander in the sun, and watching them always brings me peace. I do not write a code here, because the stamp on the shell is the right place to read it. Check the eggs you buy, and if a question comes up, write to us and we will get back to you. If you visit the farm, you can see our hens for yourself and spend a little time with them. The shop sifakoyu.com is in Turkish; for current packs and delivery details, the product page or a short message to us is the easiest way.
Next time you open a box of eggs, give the shell one second of your attention. It is a small habit, yet it builds a bond between you and what arrives in your kitchen. Had you noticed these digits before? I would love to hear from you. With love. 🌿
Şifa Köyü shop: free-range eggs (in Turkish) →
How to tell if food is organic →
Write to us with your questions →
Frequently asked questions
What does the first number on an egg mean?
It shows how the hens were kept: 0 organic, 1 free range, 2 barn, 3 cages.
Is a code 1 egg organic?
No. Code 1 means free range, with access to the outdoors. Organic eggs carry code 0.
What does TR mean on an egg?
TR is the country code for Turkey. The digits after it show the province and the individual farm and henhouse.
Where is the code printed?
On the shell. Turkish rules require it to be legible and at least 2 mm high.
Is the system the same in the EU?
The farming method digits 0 to 3 are the same. The country code changes, for example DE or NL, and the farm ID follows it.
What is the code on Şifa Köyü eggs?
Please read it on the shell of the eggs you buy. If you have any questions, you can write to us and we will get back to you.