Are you a white egg eater, or a brown egg eater? Over the years there have been many stories about which is better, the white eggs, or the brown eggs. Some people say that brown eggs are healthier. After all, the argument goes, brown eggs cost more, so they must be better for you. So, what is really the difference in these two egg types?
If you want to start off with nutritional value, white eggs and brown eggs are virtually the same. All eggs have the same nutritional value and it doesn’t matter what color it is. Eggs get their color from pigments that are added to the shell before the egg is laid and that pigment does not affect nutrition or flavor.
Color aside, there are a few factors that can affect the nutrition and taste of an egg. It depends on what the hen who laid the egg was fed. If a hen is fed a diet rich in omega 3 for example, the egg will have a higher amount of omega 3 than other eggs.
So, what about the argument that brown eggs cost more? If all eggs have the same nutritional value, why do the brown ones cost more? The answer is simple, brown eggs cost more than white eggs because the hens who lay them are larger than white egg laying hens. Because brown egg laying hens are larger, they require more feed and so the price of the eggs is higher to offset the price of more feed. Also, brown egg laying hens lay less eggs per year than white egg laying hens which is another factor in the higher price.
Still, some people prefer the brown eggs and are sticking to them regardless of price. If you want to get eggs with the best nutritional value, look at other factors rather than color. Hens raised in a better stress-free environment which are fed better feed are more likely to produce healthier eggs.
