Experts have weighed in after a major supermarket announcement
People across the UK might be wondering if they are missing out on health benefits as Sainsbury’s confirms a major change for its own brand line of eggs. The supermarket recently announced plans to discontinue a certain type of egg from its shelves.
Eggs recently made headlines as major supermarket chain Sainsbury’s announced a pledge to entirely phase out brown eggs across all its own-brand ranges and switch exclusively to white-shelled eggs. The brand’s decision is down to environmental factors.
Reports claim that white eggs come from white-feathered hens, which have longer laying lives and lower feed requirements. Sainsbury’s bosses argue that the shoppers will see the same output, but with a smaller carbon footprint.
In countries like the USA and some parts of Europe, white eggs are the most common type seen in supermarkets. This was also the case in the UK up until the late 1970s, British Lion Eggs claims.
A spokesperson said: “The number of white eggs began to diminish as consumers expressed a preference for brown eggs. Until fairly recently, British industry produced almost 100 per cent brown-shelled eggs, but white eggs are becoming more common again.”
Is it better to eat white or brown-shelled eggs?
According to British Lion Eggs , the breed of hen determines whether eggs come out white or brown. In general, it’s white hens that produce white eggs and brown hens that give us brown eggs.
Despite looking different, experts have found that there are no specific health benefits to eating eggs that are exclusively one colour. A British Lion Eggs spokesperson said: “There are no nutritional differences between brown or white eggs.
“Eggs are a natural, nutritionally dense food containing vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, in less than 80 calories, whatever the colour. While some consumers may believe that brown or white eggs taste better, there is no difference from a scientific perspective.”
Why did white eggs become less popular in the UK?
Claims have been made that shoppers wrongly associate brown eggs with being more natural and healthier than white eggs. And, despite both being produced naturally, there were also widespread false rumours that white eggs were bleached to achieve their colour.
They were never completely discontinued, but they did vanish almost entirely from high street supermarkets for over 40 years. Back in 2020, during the pandemic, when restaurants and catering businesses closed, white eggs were diverted to supermarket aisles, and shoppers snapped them up, proving the old stigma was gone, according to Poultry News.