Does eggshell color really matter?

Eggshell color has no impact on an egg’s nutritional value, but some consumers still prefer one color over another. Why is this?

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Eggs with green shells available for purchase in China.
Eggs with green shells available for purchase in China. 
Vincent Guyonnet

Why might shell color be important when choosing an egg? In some countries, consumers can choose between eggs from laying hens, quails, ducks, pigeons or even ostriches. In others, they are given the option of eggs produced by hens housed in a variety of housing systems, fed rations enriched with omega 3 fatty acids, with various vitamins and minerals or even given a rather unnatural vegetarian diet

Depending on where you live, you may be able to add the option of choosing between white and brown eggs to your selection criteria. Choice of shell color, however, is not always a given. In the U.K. and Australia, for example 99% and 98%, respectively, of eggs are brown, while in Iran and Mexico 98% of eggs are white.   

The case of brown eggs versus white eggs relates more to history, tradition and cultural preferences than any other reason. The strains of birds first domesticated in a country have created a consumer habit for color and, as we know, consumer habits are extremely hard to change. 

Regional, country and local preferences

In Latin America, for example, white eggs predominate in Mexico (98%), Brazil (80%) and Uruguay (80%), while brown eggs are preferred in Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela (100%) and Colombia (96%).

In Europe, differences between neighboring countries are common. White eggs represent 67% of the market in Switzerland but account for only 8% of production in Austria. The North American market is dominated by white eggs (Canada, 87%; U.S., 93% and Mexico 98%). Interestingly, the White Leghorn, so popular in North America, originated from Tuscany, a region of Italy where 80% of consumers purchase brown eggs. As they say, no one is a prophet in their own land.

With brown eggs, there are also different tones. Some consumers prefer an intense, dark brown shell while others prefer a lighter cream color. This is just another criterion to worry about during the genetic selection process for new generations of hens.

Shell color has also been used as a way to control origin of production and prevent illegal imports across borders. For example, in Central America, El Salvador, surrounded by Guatemala and Honduras, produces almost 100% of brown eggs, while in its two neighbors white eggs dominate. Maybe this strategy should be used in emerging markets, such as Mozambique, where local producers are constantly battling against the flow of cheaper eggs from Malawi, Eswatini and South Africa.      

Shell color preference can also vary within a country. In China, for example, 65% of the market is for brown eggs and 35% for white, while the exact opposite is the case in South Africa. In Argentina and the U.S., consumers from some regions will prefer one color, while the rest of the country overwhelmingly prefers the other.  

Seeing and believing

Egg shell color seems also to be connected to consumer perceptions of healthiness. It is interesting to observe that in countries where consumers predominantly purchase white eggs, they still view brown eggs more favorably in terms of nutrition. This may be due to organic and free-range eggs in these countries being brown, for ease of tracking their authenticity and for differentiation. Consumers also continue to believe that free-range and organic eggs are more nutritious. 

With the return of rustic traditional breeds in some countries, you may soon also have the option of buying eggs with blue or green shells but, in the end, what matters is what is inside, regardless of shell color.

 

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