"Eggsplanation" - Egg Carton Three-Digit Code Deciphered

290 - What does this code mean?
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

There is a date and three-digit number on the end of an egg carton, so what does that three digit number mean? How fresh are the eggs when they are put in the carton?

The three-digit number is the date when the eggs where put in the carton. For example, the yellow carton in the above picture has the number 290 printed on it. That means the eggs were put in that carton on October 20^th. The gray carton, pictured below, has the number 327, so those eggs where put in that carton on November 23^rd.

Three-digit codes made easier for you to figure out:

001-031 = January dates

032-059 = February dates

060-090 = March dates

091-120 = April dates

121-151 = May dates

152-181 = June dates

182-212 = July dates

213-243 = August dates

244-273 = September dates

274-304 = October dates

305-334 = November dates

335-365 = December dates

327 below the "SELL" is the three-digit code.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

Now that these date codes have been deciphered by the month they fall in, you can figure out the actually day the number falls on, if you choose. You need to know that this number does not mean the eggs were laid on that date. Those eggs could be up to thirty days old before being put in a carton and sent to the grocery store for you to purchase.

Some of these grocery store egg cartons have "Fresh" stamped on them. In my opinion, this is not fresh, but I am biased because I have my own chickens. I collect and put my eggs in the carton the day they are laid. Then, my eggs are kept refrigerated. I can say as a person who hated eggs as a kid, that there is a taste difference between my truly fresh eggs and store bought eggs.

Which would you prefer?