Key Takeaways:
- Cleaner Nutrition Starts With Better Feed Choices: An egg’s nutritional quality directly reflects what the hen eats, making feed formulation more important than labels or yolk color.
- Are Corn and Soy Free Eggs Healthier?: Eggs produced with low-PUFA, corn- and soy-free feed contain more stable fats that better support metabolic health and oxidative stability.
- Noticeable Improvements In Taste & Texture: When hens eat diverse, natural diets, eggs develop a cleaner flavor, contain more nutrients, and often have a more satisfying taste that reflects better food production.
- Confidence Comes From Transparent Sourcing: Verifying feed practices, testing standards, and farm transparency helps families choose corn and soy-free eggs that consistently deliver higher quality and integrity.
What are corn and soy free eggs? This is a question about what chickens eat, not a marketing label.
Chickens cannot be 100% grass-fed, they require a supplemental feed. And yes, that includes pasture-raised chickens!
Chickens are monogastric animals (like humans), meaning they can’t get all their nutrients from pasture, and require a supplemental feed to meet their energy and protein needs. Even when raised on pasture, 70–90% of a hen’s calories still come from feed. Which brings us to the most important point of all:
What a chicken eats matters more than the label.
So, corn- and soy-free eggs are shaped by what hens eat in their daily feed, and what is intentionally left out of that feed. Removing corn and soy changes fat composition, flavor, and oxidative stability in ways that matter on your plate and inside your body.
Understanding corn and soy-free eggs begins with understanding how the taste, nutrient-balance, and overall quality of an egg are influenced by feed choices long before eggs reach the carton.
We built our Nourish Food Club food system from the ground up around one principle: remove the industrial shortcuts that maximize production at the expense of your health. By working directly with small regenerative farms and carefully crafting our own corn- and soy-free feed, we focus on feed quality and integrity, testing, and transparency that goes far beyond grocery standards. Nourish Food Club exists to make clean, thoughtfully produced food consistent and accessible, so families can eat with confidence instead of questioning labels and sourcing.
In this blog, we’ll explore what corn and soy free means for eggs, why not all corn- and soy-free eggs are created equal, how feed choices influence egg nutrition and flavor, and what to look for when choosing eggs produced with transparency and intention.
What Corn And Soy-Free Really Means On Small Farms
Many people understand the importance of supporting small regenerative farms where chickens are pasture-raised and have access to grasses, seeds, and insects. Pasture matters, but even on well-managed regenerative farms, chickens still require a supplemental feed to meet their energy and protein needs.
In fact, supplemental feed typically makes up 70–90% of a pasture-raised chicken’s diet. Expecting chickens to thrive on pasture alone would be unrealistic and inhumane, as grass by itself cannot provide all the nutrients they need. Chickens have been domesticated for over 8,000 years and have relied on human-provided grain supplementation.
The reality is that most small farms still rely on corn- and soy-based feeds, even when birds are raised on pasture. That’s why understanding what “corn- and soy-free” eggs truly mean requires looking beyond the pasture and examining the entire feeding system.
To evaluate corn- and soy-free eggs honestly, we have to ask critical questions about what chickens are actually eating day in and day out, and how those feed choices influence the nutrition, flavor, and fat composition of the egg itself.
Why Corn And Soy Dominate Industrial Feed
So why do most farms (large and small) still rely on corn- and soy-based feeds? Scale, convenience and cost. Corn and soy are inexpensive, heavily subsidized by the government, and easily scalable. They fit neatly into industrial efficiency models designed to maximize output while minimizing short-term costs.
However, soy and corn byproduct feed ingredients are naturally high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) and are commonly grown using intensive chemical inputs. These realities are rarely discussed when eggs are marketed as “pasture-raised” or “natural,” yet they play a significant role in the nutritional profile of the final egg.
It wasn’t always this way. The dominance of corn and soy is a relatively modern development, made possible only through large-scale, chemical-dependent industrial agriculture. Historically, chickens consumed a more diverse mix of locally available, minimally processed grains tied to regional growing conditions, feeds that were naturally lower in PUFAs.
Today’s industrial feed formulations, built largely around corn byproducts and soy, represent a clear departure from that traditional model, and have meaningful consequences for both animal health and egg quality.
How Feed Choices Affect Egg Composition
Hens incorporate what they eat directly into their eggs. You are what you eat, eats. That means the fats, nutrients, and even pesticide residues in chicken feed are transferred straight into the yolk.
When it comes to pesticides, eggs have been found to contain measurable levels of glyphosate, sometimes well above international safety thresholds. In some testing, even organic, cage-free eggs have shown glyphosate levels as high as 169 ppb, more than three times the EPA’s allowable limit of 50 ppb.
Feed choices also dramatically affect the fat composition of an egg. Soy and corn byproduct feed ingredients are naturally high in linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fat found in seed oils. Research and third-party studies consistently show that these unstable PUFA fats are transferred directly into the egg yolk, raising PUFA levels far beyond ancestral norms, regardless of whether hens are barn-raised or pasture-raised.
This is why understanding why corn and soy free eggs are better for you starts with examining the feed itself. What chickens eat matters, and it’s something you won’t find listed on a marketing label printed on the carton.
Corn And Soy-Free As A Whole-System Decision
On small farms, removing corn and soy from chicken feed isn’t a simple ingredient swap. Farmers are already stretched thin managing land, animals, and daily operations, which is why most rely on off-the-shelf feed formulations (meaning, they buy their feed from a local mill or local feed store). The reality is that nearly all standard feeds, even those marketed for pasture-raised chickens, are built around corn, soy, or other ingredients high in linoleic acid (an omega-6 PUFA).
At Nourish Food Club, this is where the work truly began 5 years ago, when Farmer Ash wasn’t happy with any of the feed options out there. It took years and hundreds of hours to research the scientific literature, collaborate with livestock nutritionists, experiment with formulations, and quite literally mix feed in her garage to develop a corn- and soy-free ration specifically designed to be low in PUFAs, while still meeting all of a chicken’s nutritional requirements.
But formulating the feed is only the first step.
The Importance of Ingredient Sourcing
Once a nutritionally complete formulation exists, the next challenge is ingredient sourcing. A single small farm can’t grow all the necessary feed ingredients: it would require far more land, expensive tractors and machinery, and more labor than most farms have. That means partnering with row crop farmers. And then the questions deepen:
Are those crops grown using heavy chemical inputs, or regenerative practices? Are they clean, tested, and traceable?
These decisions must be made a year or more in advance to account for planting and harvest timelines. On top of that, once the feed ingredients are grown and harvested, where are the feed ingredients stored until next year’s harvest! That takes up a lot of space and money to buy well-ventilated and clean grain silos.
Then comes another hurdle: mixing the feed. Properly blending multiple ingredients into a consistent ratio requires specialized milling and mixing equipment, an expensive and often overlooked investment.
This is why switching to corn- and soy-free feed is a true whole-system decision that takes year of planning and years of development. It demands deep nutritional knowledge, long-term planning, coordinated sourcing, and significant time and capital.
It’s not easy, but it’s exactly why it matters.
Reducing PUFA Exposure Through Feed Integrity
By avoiding corn, soy, and other PUFA-rich feed ingredients, farms can meaningfully reduce linoleic acid levels in eggs. We see this consistently in our third-party testing, which compares our eggs to other pasture-raised eggs on the market. The results show a clear and repeatable reduction in linoleic acid, driven directly by our carefully formulated, corn- and soy-free feed.
This is what real corn- and soy-free eggs look like in practice. The benefits come not from labels or marketing claims, but from intentional feed integrity and a willingness to step outside industrial convenience. Yes, it requires significantly more work, but for us, the effort is worth it to provide cleaner eggs you can trust.
Why This Approach Remains Rare
Clearly, this isn’t a simple ingredient swap. Producing truly corn- and soy-free eggs requires deep human nutrition knowledge to understand why feed composition matters, alongside specialized poultry nutrition expertise to meet a chicken’s biological needs using a formulation that looks nothing like most feeds on the market today.
It also requires extensive coordination across the entire feed supply chain: from who grows the feed ingredients and how they’re cultivated, to where they’re stored, who mills and mixes the final ration, and how that feed is ultimately delivered to the farm.
It’s also significantly more expensive. Corn and soy are heavily subsidized by the government, making them the cheapest and most accessible feed ingredients available. When farms choose alternative ingredients, feed costs rise sharply, raising production costs for farmers and, ultimately, requiring consumers to be willing to pay more for cleaner options.
While more corn- and soy-free feed companies are beginning to emerge, we’ve found that many still rely on ingredient choices that don’t align with our nutritional beliefs and low PUFA standards (just because it is corn- and soy-free doesn’t mean it is low in PUFAs). That’s why we remain rare, and why we continue to handle feed formulation, development, and mixing in-house for our farm partners.
This approach demands higher costs, close oversight, and constant flexibility. But we believe clean, thoughtfully produced food is worth prioritizing over convenience and industrial efficiency, and we’re committed to doing the harder work to make that possible.
Nutrient Profile Shifts In Corn And-Soy-Free Yolks
When hens are fed a truly corn- and soy-free diet, the egg changes in measurable and meaningful ways. Because feed directly influences fat composition and nutrient density, these differences help explain why corn- and soy-free eggs can offer real health advantages.
Lower Linoleic Acid & PUFA Levels
Properly formulated corn- and soy-free diets (that also avoid other high-PUFA ingredients) consistently produce yolks with significantly lower linoleic acid levels. Linoleic acid is the primary omega-6 polyunsaturated fat found in industrial seed oils, and it transfers directly from feed into the egg yolk.
Independent third-party lab testing through Michigan State University consistently shows that our low-PUFA, corn- and soy-free eggs contain 73% less linoleic acid compared to organic pasture-raised eggs. These results confirm that feed formulation (not housing style alone) is the primary driver of egg fat quality.
Lower Oxidation and Reduced Cellular Damage
PUFAs are chemically unstable due to their multiple double bonds. When exposed to heat, light, or oxygen (including during everyday cooking!), they readily oxidize into compounds that increase oxidative stress and cellular damage.
Research shows that eggs from hens fed soy- or flax-rich diets already exhibit higher lipid oxidation before cooking, meaning degradation begins long before the egg reaches your pan. PUFA oxidation also accelerates cholesterol oxidation in the yolk, producing compounds associated with metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction.
One study found that consuming high-PUFA eggs increased LDL cholesterol oxidation by 28%, a clear marker of oxidative stress. Eggs higher in PUFAs also spoil faster, lose nutrients more quickly, and develop off flavors over time. The solution is straightforward: feed hens a low-PUFA, corn- and soy-free diet, protecting egg quality before, during, and after cooking.
Better Hormonal Balance
Higher intake of linoleic acid can interfere with normal estrogen detoxification pathways in the liver. Beyond fat composition, soy also introduces phytoestrogens into the egg: plant compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. Phytoestrogens are compounds that can act as endocrine disruptors and have been linked to estrogen dominance, thyroid disruption, and hormonal imbalance.
When hens consume soy or flax, phytoestrogens accumulate in their eggs. While levels are lower than consuming soy directly, phytoestrogens are fat-soluble and bioaccumulate over time. The concern isn’t a single exposure, it’s chronic, compounding intake.
The good news is that research shows that soy-free feeds produce eggs with no detectable phytoestrogens. Our custom feed is corn-free, soy-free, flax-free, and free of other estrogenic ingredients. As a result, our eggs are third-party lab tested and shown to contain virtually no detectable phytoestrogens.
Higher Levels of Fat Soluble Vitamins
Corn- and soy-free eggs are most often produced on small farms, and for good reason. While formulated feed can meet basic nutritional requirements, it cannot replicate the complexity of a living ecosystem our on pasture. A hen’s diet directly determines which nutrients are deposited into the egg yolk. Truly pasture-raised hens forage grasses, herbs, flowers, and insects, creating a level of dietary diversity that no standardized barn ration can match.
The most consistent nutritional differences appear in fat-soluble vitamins. Scientific literature shows that pasture-raised eggs contain higher levels of Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A. These differences are driven by the hen’s living environment.
Sunlight exposure allows hens to synthesize vitamin D, which is then deposited into the yolk: something barn-raised hens rarely experience. Fresh grass increases intake of vitamin E, vitamin K1, and beta-carotene. Hens convert vitamin K1 into vitamin K2 and beta-carotene into retinol (bioavailable vitamin A), both of which accumulate in the yolk.
This is why eggs from hens raised on real pasture consistently contain higher levels of vitamins A, D, E, and K2. These nutrient shifts show how removing industrial feed inputs reshapes eggs at a biological level, altering both their nutritional value and their impact on long-term health.
Allergen Relief: Eggs Without Corn Or Soy Residues
Eggs were a dietary staple for our ancestors. Yet today, many people report sensitivities or intolerance to eggs. So what changed? One major shift has been the industrialization of animal feed.
With the rise of industrial agriculture and government subsidy programs, corn and soy became the dominant commodity crops in the United States. Today, these two ingredients form the backbone of most commercial poultry feed, even in many pasture-raised systems, because they are inexpensive, calorie-dense, and available at scale. As a result, the diet of modern laying hens looks very different from that of chickens raised historically.
Research shows that feed-derived protein byproducts and plant compounds can transfer from a hen’s diet into the egg, particularly into the fat-rich yolk. This means that some people who believe they are “egg intolerant” may actually be reacting to what the hen was fed, not the egg itself.
This is especially relevant for people sensitive to soy or corn byproducts, both of which are common in modern poultry feed. It also helps explain a pattern many people notice: they can tolerate eggs from corn- and soy-free systems, but not eggs from farms where hens are fed conventional corn- and soy-based diets.
For these individuals, the difference isn’t the egg, it’s the feed system behind it. Knowing the difference between corn and soy free eggs vs conventional ones makes all the difference.
The Link Between Feed And Egg Sensitivities
Corn and soy are among the most common dietary triggers of inflammatory and allergic-type reactions in modern diets. When these ingredients dominate a hen’s feed, the eggs she produces can become less predictable for families managing issues like eczema, digestive discomfort, or unexplained food reactions.
That’s because compounds from feed don’t always stay in the feed. Proteins, metabolites, and plant-derived compounds can transfer from the hen’s diet into the egg yolk. For individuals with food sensitivities, this means reactions attributed to “eggs” may actually be responses to what the hen was fed, not the egg itself.
This helps explain why some people tolerate eggs from certain farms, but not others, even when the eggs look identical.
Phytoestrogens And Fat Composition As Hidden Factors
Soy is naturally high in phytoestrogens, plant compounds that can act as endocrine disruptors that have been linked to estrogen dominance, thyroid disruption, and hormonal imbalance. When hens consume soy or flax, phytoestrogens accumulate in their eggs.
When hens consume phytoestrogen-rich feeds (like soy and flax), these compounds (or their metabolites) are transferred into the egg yolk. While levels are lower than when consuming soy directly, phytoestrogens are fat-soluble and bioaccumulate over time.
The concern isn’t a single exposure, it’s chronic, compounding intake. Repeated exposure may influence hormonal balance, which can have downstream effects on digestion, gut integrity, and metabolic function.
Feed choice also affects the fat composition of the egg. Corn- and soy-based feeds increase the linoleic acid (omega-6 PUFA) content of egg yolks. Elevated linoleic acid intake has been shown to negatively affect the structure and resilience of the gut lining, potentially increasing digestive irritation and food sensitivity.
Together, higher phytoestrogen exposure and altered fat composition also may help explain why some people experience improved digestion and tolerance when switching to corn- and soy-free eggs. When exposure is consistent and long-term, these changes in egg composition may contribute to broader immune and metabolic stress.
Why Corn And Soy-Free Feeding Offers Clarity
Eggs are a versatile, nutrient-dense food, and are often a cornerstone of simple, nourishing meals. When eggs suddenly become “problematic,” it can be frustrating for parents and families, shrinking food choices and complicating everyday eating. Removing corn and soy from hen diets helps simplify the equation.
For many families, corn- and soy-free eggs are easier to tolerate and more reliable, because they eliminate common dietary inputs that can quietly influence egg composition. When eggs become tolerable again, people are often able to enjoy a wider variety of meals, increase overall nutrient intake, and feel less restricted around food.
Instead of cutting out a staple, families can add nourishing foods back in, using eggs once again as a foundation for balanced, satisfying meals.
Choosing Eggs With Intentional Feed Standards
Corn- and soy-free eggs aren’t about food trends or restrictive eating. They represent a deliberate return to simpler inputs, reduced exposure, and greater transparency, acknowledging that modern feed systems have fundamentally changed the eggs we eat today.
By choosing eggs produced with intentional feed standards, you’re not just selecting a different product, you’re choosing a system designed to support digestibility, metabolic health, and long-term nourishment, closer to how eggs functioned historically as a staple food.
Better Tasting Eggs: Why Feed Choice Shapes Corn and Soy Free Eggs Taste and Texture
The flavor of eggs isn’t fixed. It changes based on how a hen lives and what she eats. Even for pasture-raised birds, 70–90% of a hen’s diet still comes from supplemental feed. That means what’s in that feed plays a major role in shaping the taste, aroma, and texture of the egg.
This is why eggs from different pasture-raised farms can taste noticeably different, even when the hens all have outdoor access. Feed composition matters when it comes to the taste of eggs.
Why Conventional Eggs Can Taste Flat
Eggs from hens confined indoors and fed standardized corn- and soy-based diets can taste bland and uniform. These hens eat the same ration every day. And because most commercial feed is formulated for consistency and efficiency, the eggs it produces are consistent too, but not in a good way.
There’s no diversity. No connection to place. No depth of flavor. Eggs stopped tasting like something that came from somewhere and started tasting like something produced by a system.
Uniform. Predictable. Interchangeable.
Almost… bland. Like calories without character.
Why True Pasture Access Improves Flavor
Hens with real pasture access consume a much wider range of nutrients from plants and insects. This doesn’t just increase vitamin and mineral intake, it also increases exposure to naturally occurring plant compounds known as phytonutrients.
These compounds don’t just affect nutrition. They also influence flavor complexity, giving eggs more depth, richness, and character. Just like wine, cheese, or meat, eggs can reflect “terroir”: the taste of place. In other words, egg flavor reflects the environment, forage, and conditions in which the hen lives.
Corn- and Soy-Free Eggs Often Taste Better
But pasture alone isn’t the full story. Even pasture-raised hens still rely on supplemental feed, and that feed strongly influences egg flavor.
First, corn- and soy-based feeds impart a specific flavor profile into eggs. When those ingredients are replaced with alternatives like triticale, peas, or other grains and legumes, the taste of the egg changes, often becoming cleaner and more balanced. Second, corn- and soy-based feeds increase the linoleic acid (omega-6 PUFA) content of egg yolks.
PUFAs are chemically unstable due to their multiple double bonds. When exposed to heat, light, or oxygen (such as during cooking), they oxidize more easily, forming compounds like lipid peroxides and malondialdehyde (MDA).
Research shows that foods higher in PUFA oxidize more rapidly during cooking, producing oxidative byproducts associated with inflammation, metabolic stress, and cellular damage. Eggs lower in PUFA are more stable, producing fewer of these compounds, and often tasting cleaner and richer as a result.
This is why many of our customers notice the difference in our corn- and soy-free eggs immediately. The flavor isn’t just different, it’s more clean and rich!
Not all Corn- and Soy-Free Eggs Are The Same
Yes, removing corn and soy from chicken feed can help avoid common allergens and, for some people, improve digestibility. And that’s often a great start! It also reduces our reliance on conventional, industrial corn- and soy-based agriculture. But here’s the real question most people, and even most farmers, don’t ask:
What are corn and soy being replaced with?
Many “corn and soy free” feeds simply swap one set of high-PUFA ingredients for another. Here’s what they often use instead:
- Sunflowers / Sunflower Meal
- Sunflower Oil
- Canola Meal / Oil
- Flaxseed / Flaxseed Oil
These swaps don’t solve the PUFA problem… they can just repackage it. So eggs from “corn and soy free” hens still contain high levels of PUFAs. In other words, you end up with the same issue in your eggs, just with different packaging. And often a higher price tag.
Why Eggs From Flax-Fed Hens Can Be Problematic
Flax is one of the most common ingredients used in corn- and soy-free feed rations. On the surface, this sounds like a healthy upgrade. But historically, flax was not a traditional livestock feed. It was primarily used to make linen and paint, because the fats in flax are extremely unstable and oxidize rapidly.
That property may be great for hardening paint, but it’s not so great when it ends up in your breakfast, and inside of you. Flax changes the fatty acid composition of eggs, and not in a favorable way. Research shows that when hens are fed flax:
- Omega‑3 levels in eggs may increase, but so do omega‑6 levels.
- Total PUFAs climb, while saturated fat (the most stable, metabolism‑supportive fat) goes down.
These are not favorable shifts for long-term metabolic health.
Flax Can Make The Fats In Eggs More Unstable
It’s also important to understand which omega-3 flax increases. Flax primarily raises ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), a plant-based omega-3 that the human body:
- Converts very inefficiently
- Does not store well
- Actively works to burn off
These plant-based omega-3 fats are different from the omega-3s naturally found in animal fats. Flax feeding artificially elevates omega-3 levels in eggs far beyond what hens would produce on a natural diet, while also increasing total PUFA, fats that are chemically unstable.
Studies show that eggs enriched with flax oxidize more rapidly during storage and cooking, producing harmful byproducts linked to inflammation, cellular damage, and metabolic stress. One study summarized it clearly:
“Flaxseed inclusion as a fat source in a hen’s diet has been found to enhance n-3 PUFA content but causes a significant decrease in the oxidative stability of eggs.”
So you’re not just increasing PUFA intake, you can be consuming more damaging lipid oxidation products with every bite.
Why Some Eggs Taste Fishy
Have you ever eaten eggs with a distinctly fishy or off-flavor? That taste is often linked to the oxidation of polyunsaturated fats, particularly omega-3 PUFAs introduced through flax-based feeds or fish-meal ingredients. When long-chain polyunsaturated fats oxidize, they form volatile compounds (such as aldehydes, ketones, and trimethylamine) which can produce flavors commonly described as fishy, rancid, or metallic.
This isn’t a coincidence, it’s a chemistry problem that can arise when eggs contain artificially elevated Omega 3 levels.
More Endocrine Disrupting Compounds
The concerns with flax don’t stop with fat stability. Flax is extremely high in phytoestrogens, in fact, it contains more phytoestrogens than soy.
Research shows that eggs from flax-fed hens contain significantly higher levels of estrogen-mimicking compounds, with one study finding a 303% increase in phytoestrogen content, reaching concentrations comparable to those found in nuts. Given how widespread endocrine-disrupting chemicals already are, adding more estrogen-mimicking compounds through food deserves careful consideration.
The good news is that research shows that soy-free and flax-free feeds produce eggs with no detectable phytoestrogens. For those seeking to minimize endocrine-disrupting exposure, choosing eggs from hens fed soy- and flax-free diets can make a meaningful difference.
That’s why our custom feed is soy-free and flax-free, and excludes other estrogenic ingredients. As a result, our eggs are third-party lab tested and consistently show virtually no detectable phytoestrogens.
Choosing To Custom Formulate Our Own Corn- and Soy-Free Feed Without Flax In House
Corn- and soy-free eggs can be a step in the right direction, but only if the replacement ingredients are chosen intentionally. What matters isn’t just what you remove from the feed. It’s what you replace it with. Feed formulation determines:
- Fat stability
- PUFA load
- Exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds
- Flavor
- And long-term metabolic impact
When hens consume diets high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), those unstable fats accumulate in their eggs, and eventually in the people who eat them. Corn, soy, and common byproducts like soybean oil and distillers grains are all high-PUFA feed ingredients. This is why just two pasture-raised eggs can contain as much linoleic acid as a tablespoon of canola oil.
Simply removing corn and soy helps, but only if they aren’t replaced with other high-PUFA ingredients. Unfortunately, many corn- and soy-free feeds do exactly that by swapping in flax, sunflower, or canola-based ingredients.
That’s why we chose a different approach.
Instead of buying off-the-shelf feed, we formulate, source, and mill our feed in-house. This gives us full control over ingredient selection and sourcing, fat composition, PUFA levels, and phytoestrogen exposure. We intentionally craft a feed that is corn-free, soy-free, flax-free, and low in PUFAs and phytoestrogens, not to chase labels, but to change the egg itself. The result is eggs that are:
- More stable and better tasting
- More hormonally balanced
- Easier to digest
- Lower in PUFA
When chickens eat better, you eat better, and over time, your body feels the difference.
Final Thoughts
If you’re avoiding seed oils to reduce your intake of unstable omega-6 PUFAs, it’s important to consider what chickens are eating as well. An egg’s fatty acid profile mirrors the fats in a hen’s diet, meaning feed choices matter just as much as the oils you cook with at home.
Corn- and soy-free eggs represent a shift away from industrial shortcuts and toward food produced with intention. When feed is thoughtfully formulated and unnecessary inputs are removed, eggs can once again serve as a reliable, everyday source of stable fats, texture, and flavor that families can trust.
Our Angel Acres Low PUFA, corn- and soy-free eggs clearly demonstrate this difference. From custom feed that avoids excess omega-6 fats to fatty acid testing that verifies results, these eggs are produced with standards that go beyond label claims. The yolks are more flavorful, the nutrient profile more intentional, and the fats are chosen to support metabolic integrity, not industrial efficiency.
At Nourish Food Club, we believe better food should be easier to access. By partnering with small regenerative farms, we bring back old-fashioned, farm-fresh food, with the convenience of modern delivery. If you’re ready to bring truly intentional sourcing back to your table, explore our Angel Acres Low PUFA, corn- and soy-free eggs and taste the difference for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions About What Are Corn And Soy-Free Eggs
How are corn and soy-free eggs produced?
Corn- and soy-free eggs are produced by feeding hens custom-formulated diets that exclude corn and soy, rather than relying on standard commodity feed. When done properly, this also requires careful ingredient sourcing, intentional feed formulation, and farming practices that prioritize animal health, welfare, and clean inputs. Unlike industrial systems, this approach is typically implemented at a smaller scale where feed composition and hen management can be closely controlled.
Why do some people seek corn and soy-free eggs?
Many people choose corn- and soy-free eggs to reduce exposure to omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) like linoleic acid, chemical residues, and common dietary triggers associated with conventional poultry feed. Because the fats and compounds in a hen’s diet directly influence egg composition, some individuals find these eggs align better with their digestive comfort and overall health goals.
Are corn and soy-free eggs healthier?
When corn- and soy-free eggs are produced with intentional replacement ingredients, they are often lower in linoleic acid and total polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) and can also contain lower levels of phytoestrogen exposure, depending on the feed formulation.
This results in a more stable fat profile, improved oxidative stability during cooking, and a nutrient composition that aligns more closely with long-term metabolic and hormonal health.
Do corn and soy-free eggs taste different?
Yes, many people notice a difference. Eggs produced from thoughtfully formulated, lower-PUFA feed often have cleaner flavor, less of a fishy taste, and a more rich flavor. Because fat composition and oxidative stability influence taste, eggs made with more stable fats tend to have greater depth and fewer off-flavors. Pasture-access also adds to the depth and flavor complexity of eggs.
You can read some of our reviews where our customers notice the improvement in taste on our egg page here.
Are corn and soy-free eggs more expensive?
Yes. Producing corn- and soy-free eggs typically costs more due to custom feed formulation, higher-quality ingredients, smaller-scale farming, and greater oversight. Industrial egg systems benefit from commodity pricing and scale efficiencies, largely because corn and soy are heavily subsidized crops, making them artificially inexpensive feed ingredients. This keeps production costs low, but also locks most of the industry into the same feed model.
Corn- and soy-free systems, by contrast, rely on unsubsidized ingredients, intentional sourcing, and more hands-on management. That increases cost, but it also allows for greater transparency, better feed quality, and a higher-integrity final product.
What kind of feed is used for corn and soy-free eggs?
Feeds often include carefully sourced grains, forage, and mineral supplements selected to avoid corn, soy, and excessive PUFA inputs while supporting hen health.
Corn- and soy-free feeds are made from alternative grains and legumes selected to meet a hen’s nutritional needs without relying on commodity corn, soy, or high-PUFA oils and seeds. The most important factor isn’t simply what’s removed from the feed, it’s what replaces it, particularly in terms of fat stability and phytoestrogen exposure.
Our custom-formulated, one of a kind, corn- and soy-free feed is intentionally designed to be low in PUFAs and includes triticale, peas, wheat, beef tallow, whey protein, and a custom vitamin and mineral mix. This formulation is designed to fully meet the caloric and nutritional requirements of laying hens, supporting health, resilience, and consistent egg production, while intentionally keeping PUFA and phytoestrogen levels low.
The result is eggs that more closely resemble the kind of food your great-great-grandmother would recognize: simple, nourishing, and better aligned with human biology.
Are corn and soy-free eggs considered allergy-friendly?
Yes, corn- and soy-free eggs can be easier to tolerate for some individuals. Removing corn and soy from hen diets reduces exposure to feed-derived proteins, metabolites, and plant compounds that may contribute to sensitivities in certain people. While responses vary, many who struggle with conventional eggs find corn- and soy-free eggs more predictable and easier to digest. We have many customers who have never been able to consume eggs before, yet can digest and enjoy our eggs with no digestive issues or problems! What we eat eats matters!
Sources:
- Suen AA, Kenan AC, Williams CJ. Developmental exposure to phytoestrogens found in soy: New findings and clinical implications. Biochem Pharmacol. 2022 Jan;195:114848. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114848. Epub 2021 Nov 18. PMID: 34801523; PMCID: PMC8712417.
- Toomer OT, Sanders E, Vu TC, Livingston ML, Wall B, Malheiros RD, Carvalho LV, Livingston KA, Ferket PR, Anderson KE. Potential Transfer of Peanut and/or Soy Proteins from Poultry Feed to the Meat and/or Eggs Produced. ACS Omega. 2020 Jan 9;5(2):1080-1085. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03218. PMID: 31984264; PMCID: PMC6977026.
- Cuchillo-Hilario M, Fournier-Ramírez MI, Díaz Martínez M, Montaño Benavides S, Calvo-Carrillo MC, Carrillo Domínguez S, Carranco-Jáuregui ME, Hernández-Rodríguez E, Mora-Pérez P, Cruz-Martínez YR, Delgadillo-Puga C. Animal Food Products to Support Human Nutrition and to Boost Human Health: The Potential of Feedstuffs Resources and Their Metabolites as Health-Promoters. Metabolites. 2024 Sep 13;14(9):496. doi: 10.3390/metabo14090496. PMID: 39330503; PMCID: PMC11434278.
- Tadesse, D., Retta, N., Girma, M., Ndiwa, N., Dessie, T., Hanotte, O., Getachew, P., Dannenberger, D., & Maak, S. (2023). Yolk fatty acid content, lipid health indices, and oxidative stability in eggs of slow-growing Sasso chickens fed on flaxseed supplemented with plant polyphenol extracts. Foods, 12(9), 1819. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12091819
- Mattioli, S., Ruggeri, S., Sebastiani, B., Brecchia, G., Dal Bosco, A., Cartoni Mancinelli, A., & Castellini, C. (2017). Performance and egg quality of laying hens fed flaxseed: Highlights on n-3 fatty acids, cholesterol, lignans and isoflavones. animal, 11(4), 705–712. https://doi.org/10.1017/S175173111600207X
- Cherian, G., & Sim, J. S. (1991). Effect of feeding full fat flax and canola seeds to laying hens on the fatty acid composition of eggs, embryos, and newly hatched chicks. Poultry Science, 70(4), 917–922. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0700917
- Nourish Food Club. The LowPs™ standard. https://nourishfoodclub.com/pages/the-lowps
- Armstrong, A. (2025, July 5). How a mother’s diet changes breast milk: The hidden impact of PUFAs on infant health. Nourish Food Club. https://nourishfoodclub.com/blogs/news/how-a-mother-s-diet-changes-breast-milk-the-hidden-impact-of-pufas-on-infant-health




