The humble egg has recently made headlines as one supermarket decided to remove a particular variety from its stores. This shift has left shoppers wondering whether they are missing out on nutritional benefits, as Sainsbury's confirms the change.
Sainsbury's Commits to White Eggs
The supermarket giant has committed to eliminating brown eggs across all its own-brand ranges and switching exclusively to white-shelled eggs. The retailer's decision is driven by environmental considerations. Announcing the change, Sainsbury's stated that white-feathered hens, which tend to lay white-shelled eggs, "have a longer laying life and require less feed for the same egg output, contributing to over 12% reduction in carbon emissions compared to brown hens. White eggs have the same delicious taste and nutritional benefits as their brown counterparts, but result in lower emissions and better welfare outcomes for the hens that lay them."
White Eggs in Europe and the USA
Across Europe and the USA, white eggs are the most prevalent variety found in supermarkets. This was also true in the UK until the late 1970s, according to British Lion Eggs. 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% brown-shelled eggs, but white eggs are becoming more common again."
Are White or Brown-Shelled Eggs Better for You?
The breed of hen dictates whether eggs emerge white or brown. Generally speaking, it is white hens that lay white eggs and brown hens that lay brown eggs. Despite their visual differences, experts have established that there are no particular health advantages to eating eggs of any one colour. "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 fewer 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," says the spokesperson.
Why Did White Eggs Fall Out of Favour in the UK?
It has been suggested that shoppers mistakenly associate brown eggs with being more natural and wholesome than their white counterparts. And, despite both being produced naturally, widespread unfounded rumours also circulated that white eggs were bleached to obtain their colour. They were never completely discontinued, but they did vanish almost entirely from high street supermarkets for more than 40 years. Then in 2020, during the pandemic, when restaurants and catering establishments were forced to close, white eggs were diverted to supermarket aisles, and shoppers snapped them up — proving the old stigma was gone, according to Poultry News.
