The Best Certified Humane Egg Brands

With so many labels, like cage-free, organic and free-range, it can be hard to tell which Certified Humane egg brands truly treat their hens right. The best Certified Humane egg brands demonstrate their commitment to animal welfare through rigorous standards, transparent sourcing and farming practices that prioritize hen health.

When you choose Certified Humane eggs, you support a more compassionate food system.

What Does Certified Humane Mean?

Certified Humane is a label awarded by Humane Farm Animal Care, an independent nonprofit organization that sets rigorous welfare standards for farm animals. For eggs, that means the hens are raised in environments that let them engage in natural behaviors, such as perching, nesting, dust bathing and roaming freely. These farms prohibit cages, unnecessary antibiotics and forced molting, ensuring the hens live healthier, less stressful lives.

Beyond animal care, the certification process also looks at the entire supply chain, from feed quality and housing conditions to how eggs are handled, transported and labeled. Farms undergo regular third-party inspections to maintain their certification. When you buy from the best Certified Humane egg brands, you are supporting a system built on transparency, sustainability and compassion.

What Are the Best Certified Humane Egg Brands?

Certified Humane is a standard backed by strict welfare requirements. The following are the best Certified Humane egg brands that deliver on ethics and quality, ensuring you get delicious, nutritious and responsibly produced eggs.

1. Sauder’s Eggs

Sauder’s Eggs has been a family-owned business for over 80 years, and its commitment to animal welfare is deeply ingrained in everything it does. As one of the best Certified Humane egg brands, it partners with local family farms that adhere to strict guidelines for hen care. Every hen is free to roam and has access to clean water and fresh air.

The company emphasizes transparency. It goes beyond just meeting Certified Humane standards by embracing them as part of its identity. Each egg comes from hens fed a carefully balanced diet with no antibiotics or hormones. Its farms also prioritize air quality, natural lighting and space, all of which contribute to happier hens and better eggs. When you buy Sauder’s Eggs, you support ethical farming and get eggs with rich yolks and outstanding flavor.

Key features:

• Regular third-party audits to maintain Certified Humane certification
• Long-standing partnerships with small, family-run farms
• Focus on sustainable, eco-friendly farming practices
• Traceable supply chain for full transparency
• Emphasis on hen comfort and natural living conditions

2. Vital Farms

Vital Farms is a standout in the ethical egg industry. Based in Austin, Texas, this company started small in 2007 and has since grown into one of the most recognized names in pasture-raised eggs. It earned its spot among the best Certified Humane egg brands by setting standards for pasture access and animal welfare. Its hens enjoy at least 108 square feet of pasture each, allowing them to forage naturally and live stress-free lives.

Each Vital Farms carton comes with a “Trace Your Eggs” code, allowing customers to see exactly where their eggs originated. The brand also invests heavily in regenerative farming techniques, which improve soil health and reduce the company’s carbon footprint. Every decision Vital Farms makes — from hen feed to packaging — aligns with a long-term vision of sustainability and ethics.

Key features:

• 100% pasture-raised hens with ample outdoor access
• “Trace Your Eggs” feature for consumer transparency
• Partnerships with over 300 small family farms
• Focus on regenerative agriculture and soil health
• Strong stance against factory farming practices

3. Pete & Gerry’s

Pete & Gerry’s is another top contender. The company’s story began in New Hampshire, where a family decided to do things differently by prioritizing hen welfare and small-farm values. Today, Pete & Gerry’s works with dozens of small, independent farms that meet Certified Humane and USDA Organic standards.

Its hens live cage-free, with access to outdoor areas and organic feed free from GMOs and pesticides. What makes Pete & Gerry’s special is its advocacy for small-scale farmers. It helps family farms thrive by providing them with a fair market and reasonable compensation for their work. This approach supports local economies while guaranteeing that consumers get eggs produced with integrity.

Key features:

• Dual USDA Organic and Certified Humane certification
• Support for small, family-owned farms across the country
• No antibiotics, pesticides or GMOs in feed
• Compostable and recyclable packaging options
• Dedicated to sustainable, community-driven farming

4. Nellie’s Free Range

Nellie’s Free Range is another trusted name among the best Certified Humane egg brands. The company takes pride in its small farm roots, focusing on raising happy hens in open, spacious environments. Its Certified Humane label is proof of a farming system that values compassion and responsibility.

Each hen has access to outdoor pastures and indoor shelters designed for comfort and enrichment. Nellie’s Free Range emphasizes food safety and freshness, using strict quality control from farm to carton. Additionally, it has built a reputation for community involvement, supporting local farmers and educational programs that promote humane animal care.

Key features:

• 100% Certified Humane Free-Range eggs
• Strict quality and freshness standards
• Partnership with independent small farms
• Transparent, consumer-friendly business practices
• Investment in the community and education

5. Happy Hens

Happy Hens lives up to its name. This brand has built its reputation on the promise that every egg comes from hens that are genuinely happy and healthy. As one of the top Certified Humane egg brands, Happy Hens goes beyond minimum welfare standards. Its birds roam freely across lush pastures, enjoying sunlight, fresh air and plenty of space to forage. This stress-free lifestyle translates into eggs that are richer in nutrients and fuller in flavor.

The company also stands out for its environmental efforts. Happy Hens integrates renewable energy sources into its operations and uses sustainable feed sourced locally whenever possible. It views ethical farming as a holistic process, protecting the animals, the land and the surrounding communities. Each egg carton is recyclable and designed with minimal packaging waste, further reflecting the brand’s commitment to a greener planet.

Key features:

• 100% pasture-raised hens with extensive outdoor access
• Sustainable feed and eco-friendly energy use
• Recyclable, minimal-waste packaging
• Focus on hen well-being and natural behaviors
• Transparent supply chain from farm to table

6. Eggland’s Best

Eggland’s Best is one of the most recognizable names in the egg aisle, and for good reason. While it is a large-scale producer, the company has earned its place by maintaining high standards of animal care and nutrition. Its Certified Humane farms provide hens with comfortable environments, clean water, fresh air and high-quality feed enriched with essential nutrients.

What differentiates Eggland’s Best is its dedication to nutrition. The eggs contain more vitamin D, B12 and E than ordinary eggs, along with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. The brand’s attention to detail in feed formulation ensures that each egg delivers superior taste and health benefits. Eggland’s Best proves that large-scale production and humane practices can coexist.

Key features:

• Certified Humane housing and welfare standards
• Superior nutritional profile
• Rigorous quality control and freshness testing
• Nationally available yet sourced from local farms
• Focus on consumer health and animal well-being

Comparing Top Certified Humane Egg Providers

Here is an overview of the best Certified Humane egg brands, including their hens’ environment and the company’s sustainability initiatives and transparency features.

Making Every Purchase Count

Choosing the best Certified Humane egg brands is about aligning your values with what you eat. Whether you’re drawn to regenerative farms, small-scale ethics or a nutrient-rich focus, each brand offers a way to enjoy quality eggs without compromising.