Free range and pasture raised are different.
Free range doesn't mean much.
You are correct. Free Range and Pasture Raised are different.
To further complicate labeling eggs is whether they are Organic or not. Organic eggs must be free-range eggs, but free-range eggs aren't necessarily organic, as they do not need to be fed organic feed. Pastured eggs are not considered organic. So this suggests that the labeling on the carton of eggs I posted lies. Pastured eggs come from chickens that are free to wander outdoors in a pasture where they can eat grass, worms, bugs and whatever else pleases their palate.
As for nutritional value, some evidence suggests that pastured eggs may be better for you. A 2010 study from Penn State showed that they had twice as much vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids as eggs from caged hens.
Don't confuse pastured eggs with pasteurized eggs. Pasteurized eggs are gently heated in their shells, just enough to kill the bacteria but not enough to actually cook the egg.
“Free Range” and “Pasture Raised” officially defined by HFAC for Certified Humane® label
https://certifiedhumane.org/free-range-and-pasture-raised-officially-defined-by-hfac-for-certified-humane-label/#:~:text=The%20USDA%27s%20(and%20industry%20standard,and%20no%20minimum%20space%20requirement.
