But when it comes to buying\u00a0eggs, have you ever noticed those extra numbers printed on the carton? Beyond the expiration date, there\u2019s a secret code known as the Julian date \u2013 a key to understanding the true freshness of your eggs. Let\u2019s crack the code and make sure you\u2019re getting the best eggs possible!<\/p>\n
If you take a close look at your egg carton, you\u2019ll find a three-digit number printed near the sell-by date. This isn\u2019t a random serial number \u2013 it\u2019s the Julian date, which tells you the exact day the eggs were packaged,\u00a0USDA<\/a>\u00a0explains.<\/p>\n The Julian date follows a simple numbering system:<\/p>\n For example, if the Julian date reads 045, that means the eggs were packaged on February 14th. This system allows you to quickly gauge how fresh your\u00a0eggs\u00a0are before you buy them.<\/p>\n Next to the Julian date, you\u2019ll often see a code that starts with \u201cP\u201d followed by four digits.<\/p>\n This is the plant code, which identifies the facility where the eggs were processed and packaged.<\/p>\n\n
The plant code<\/h3>\n