In a few years, brown eggs, which are particularly popular with older people, could disappear from shelves entirely. But is there actually a difference between the colors?
In a few years, consumers may no longer be able to choose between brown and white eggs when shopping. “Today you see brown eggs less and less, and soon there will probably be none left,” said Henner Schönecke, chairman of the Federal Association of German Egg Producers. The reason is that many breeders are switching from brown to white chickens. “Bild” was the first to report on it.
“White chickens have greater genetic potential than brown ones. They live and lay longer,” says Schönecke. “White chickens are easier to keep and more mobile than brown ones.” They find their food and water better, and they are lighter and smaller, as are their eggs. This makes laying less strenuous. Brown eggs are now only available from a few regional keepers.
Proportion of brown eggs at 30 percent
White hens lay white eggs, while brown-feathered ones lay brown ones. According to Schönecke, this is the rule, at least for chicken breeds in Germany. According to the association, the proportion of brown eggs in supermarkets is still around 30 percent, and discounters often no longer have them. Ten years ago, more brown eggs were sold than white eggs in this country.
A customer survey by the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry shows that brown eggs are still often more popular among older people. Younger people usually don’t care about the color; aspects such as animal husbandry and regionality are more important to them.
Differences between egg colors?
“The majority of consumers don’t really care about the color of the shell,” said a spokesman for the trading company Rewe. An exception is Easter, where white eggs are clearly preferred.
Whether brown or white: this has no noticeable impact on consumers. According to Schönecke, brown eggs used to have a firmer shell, but not anymore. There are no differences in taste. The 51-year-old, who is a laying hen farmer himself and runs a fourth-generation family business between Buxtehude and Hamburg, switched completely to white a year and a half ago.
Consumption per capita increased
The Federal Information Center for Agriculture (BZL) recently reported that per capita consumption of eggs had recently increased by six eggs compared to the previous year to 236 eggs. Ten years ago there were eight fewer eggs.
With a total of 19.9 billion eggs, consumption in 2023 was three percent higher than in the previous year. According to experts, this is due to the increased population and higher demand. The authority also points to high inflation and the thrift of many consumers as possible reasons for the increased demand. Eggs are a comparatively cheap food. In addition, the flexitarian diet – less meat, more eggs – is spreading.
Recommended consumption relaxed
The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recently relaxed its consumption recommendations for eggs somewhat. “The serving of one egg per week is not based on a limit for health reasons (e.g. cholesterol),” it said.
In this case, it is more due to the environmental impact that animal products cause, says spokeswoman Antje Gahl. In addition to about one breakfast egg a week, a few more processed eggs are okay, for example in pasta or cakes. There used to be talk of “up to three eggs per week” – but that already included the processed ones.
Criticism of the egg industry and Consumer behavior
Animal rights organizations fundamentally criticize egg consumption and the egg industry. Peta emphasizes that chicken breeds – like other birds – originally laid eggs solely to reproduce. However, chicken breeding has increased the annual number of eggs laid tenfold by around 20 to 30. Eggs are particularly problematic in processed products such as pasta, cakes and sweets. Eggs are often processed that the majority of consumers actually reject – namely eggs from cage farming.
According to BLE, there were 50.25 million laying hens in Germany last year. The laying performance was 291 eggs per hen. A total of 14.6 billion table eggs were produced, 0.8 percent fewer than in 2022. This is due to the expansion of the range of farming methods, it is said.