Do you know Fact from Fiction on Eggs?

Oh, the egg, how such a well-known food staple has received much attention. For decades, there have been countless misconceptions regarding eggs. You just need to do a quick Google search to see just how much positivity and negativity there is on the topic of eggs. What is true is that the egg is a marvelous food to enjoy for many reasons. One egg packs a lot of goodness, is an affordable and versatile product, and plays a part in healthy eating. Here are some common misconceptions that just aren’t true about eggs. Let’s crack open each one from fiction to fact!

Fiction: Brown eggs are healthier for you to eat than white eggs.

Fact:  Both brown and white eggs are identical in nutrition unless you are purchasing specialty eggs like Omega-3, where the hens feed has more flax seed mixed in it. It doesn’t matter which color you buy; you still are getting a high-quality, tasty egg.

Fiction: The eggs you buy in grocery stores are not from local farms.

Fact:  In Alberta, you can guarantee the eggs you buy are produced by our 170 egg farming families. Fun fact, it takes around 7 days from when the egg was laid to when it arrives on store shelves – this is because eggs must first make a stop at a certified CFIA grading station. It is here where eggs are washed, candled, weighed, and packaged.

Fiction: Eggs are not a food you should eat regularly due to the high cholesterol content in them.

Fact:  Numerous studies and research have shown that eggs have a minimal effect on a person’s cholesterol level. Dietary cholesterol (which is found in food) does not affect blood cholesterol or increase the risk of heart disease.

Fiction: A pale looking egg yolk indicates the egg is old.

Fact:  The color of the yolk depends on the type of feed that the hens eat. In Alberta, hens are primarily fed a wheat-based diet, meaning the yolks will naturally be lighter in color. A corn-based diet or the addition of beta carotene in the feed will give the yolks a brighter, orange color.

Fiction: Babies under 1 year old should not eat eggs.

Fact:  Once a baby gets to six months of age and starts eating solid foods, it is encouraged to introduce them to eggs. Eggs are an easy food for babies to eat and digest plus have many important nutrients a baby needs.

Fiction: The quality of the egg is determined by the hen housing system used in a barn.

Fact:  All eggs have the same quality regardless of the type of hen housing system that is used. Whether the hens are in enriched housing, free-run, or free-range, you are still getting the same fresh and nutritious egg.

Fiction: A blood spot in an egg means the egg was fertilized.

Fact:  Blood spots in eggs are a natural part during the formation of the egg. It is caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the hen. Every egg is inspected up close at one of the two province’s commercial grading stations (Burnbrae Farms or Sparks Eggs) and goes through a candling process to catch any abnormalities or irregularities. None of the eggs you purchase at the store (what we term table eggs) can hatch.

So, while there are egg myths that still make noise, now you know the real facts about eggs. One carton of eggs goes a long way to making you and your family meals, whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

To learn more about the nutrition in eggs, check out our webpage Egg Nutrition – Egg Farmers of Alberta (eggs.ab.ca) and to explore the stories of our egg farming families, see Meet an Egg Farmer – Egg Farmers of Alberta (eggs.ab.ca).

Have an egg-cellent day!