Brown Eggs vs. White Eggs: What’s the Distinction?

There may be plenty of data to be discovered on egg carton labels, however what in regards to the coloration of the eggs inside? That will help you shell out your cash correctly, we requested 4 poultry consultants why some eggs are white whereas others are brown, blue, and past.

What’s the distinction between brown and white eggs?

Poultry consultants say an eggshell’s coloration is totally primarily based on the kind of rooster that lays it. “The shell coloration is dictated by the breed. It’s genetic,” says Jonathan Moyle, PhD, poultry professional and extension specialist on the College of Maryland Faculty of Agriculture & Pure Sources. 

Most eggs include a “base coloration” that’s white, explains Richard Blatchford, PhD, a poultry researcher and affiliate specialist in Cooperative Extension: Small to Business Scale Poultry on the UC Davis Division of Animal Science. However as eggs journey by way of hens’ oviducts in the course of the reproductive course of, some breeds deposit pigments that change the colour of the egg shells.

“For chickens that lay brown eggs, a pigment protein referred to as protoporphyrin is added because the eggshell is constructed, thus including the brown coloration,” says James Okay. Yarborough, extension agent of agriculture and pure assets on the College of Florida’s Institute of Meals and Agricultural Sciences. For chickens that lay blue eggs, a pigment protein referred to as oocyan is added when the eggshell is constructed, making a blue shade, he says.

Though exceptions exist, there’s a basic rule within the poultry neighborhood in terms of understanding the colour of egg a hen will lay: Birds which have pink earlobes (which additionally are inclined to have pink or red-brown feathers) will normally lay brown eggs, and those who have white earlobes and feathers will lay white eggs, says Blatchford. 

A lot of the brown eggs within the U.S. are produced by a sort of rooster breed referred to as Rhode Island Crimson or Plymouth Rock, whereas most of the white eggs are made by White Leghorn chickens, he says, noting, “No matter coloration egg a hen lays at their first egg would be the similar coloration all through their total life.”

There are some variations of brown and white, which can be dictated by the age of the hen. “Brown eggs could also be actually darkish brown when the hen is youthful and fade to a lighter coloration when the hen is older,” Blanchard provides.

Are brown eggs more healthy?

Whereas brown eggs have constructed up a status for being more healthy or extra “pure,” that’s not the case, provides Marc Dresner, director of built-in communications on the American Egg Board. “All eggs are wholesome in accordance with the FDA,” he says. One thing else price stating, per Dresner: “Natural eggs will be each white and brown, however opposite to well-liked false impression, not all brown eggs are natural.”

The colour of the eggshell has no influence on the egg’s dietary worth or style, provides Yarborough. “That is derived extra from breed and chook vitamin,” he provides. 

Blatchford agrees. “There needs to be no impact on any a part of the within of the egg primarily based on the eggshell coloration,” he says. 

What about blue or inexperienced eggs? 

Pastel-hued eggs are much less widespread in business shops than brown and white eggs, however they present up on some cabinets. For instance, Two Creek’s Rainbow Eggs, which function a mixture of brown, white, inexperienced, blue, and beige eggshells, will be discovered at some specialty shops. However you’re extra prone to spot these coloured eggs at your native farmers market. 

Like brown and white eggs, pastel-colored eggs are additionally dictated by the breed of the hen, says Moyle. “There are every kind of genetics occurring there,” he says. Some breeds, like Araucanas and Ameraucanas, are additionally identified for laying blue eggs, says Yarborough. 

“Folks extra just lately have performed plenty of synthetic choice and are breeding birds that lay completely different coloured eggs,” says Blatchford. “They’ve give you all completely different shades of inexperienced, blue, and brown [eggs]. Some look pinkish, however they’re mainly a shade of brown.”

“Easter Eggers” are mixed-breed hens that carry blue and brown egg genes, and lay all kinds of coloured eggs. 

The underside line: Whereas shopping for pasture-raised eggs from the grocery retailer or farmers market will doubtless get you the highest-quality eggs, poultry consultants agree that there isn’t any “greatest” eggshell coloration. Yarborough places it merely. “It doesn’t matter in any respect what coloration eggs you select.”