Brown eggs could soon disappear from supermarket shelves. Breeders are increasingly turning to white chickens, which live and lay longer.
Kassel – Brown and white eggs do not differ in taste. If consumers prefer one type or the other, it probably has primarily to do with visual preferences. However, the selection in the supermarket could soon become significantly smaller - brown eggs are gradually disappearing from the shelves.
“Soon there won’t be any left” – the Federal Association of Egg Producers has a clear forecast for brown eggs
“Today you see brown eggs less and less, and soon there will probably be none left,” predicted Henner Schönecke, chairman of the Federal Association of German Egg Producers. The reason for this is that more and more breeders are replacing their brown chickens with white ones. This was first reported by
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. White hens lay white eggs, while brown-feathered hens lay brown eggs - at least that is the case with the chicken breeds kept in Germany.
“White chickens have greater genetic potential than brown ones. They live and lay longer,” he said. In addition, they are “easier to keep and more mobile.” They find their food and water more easily, are smaller and lighter, and lay smaller eggs. This makes laying less strenuous. Brown eggs can now only be found from a few regional breeders.
Even before Easter, the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry issued a warning about a possible shortage of eggs.
According to surveys, older people have a preference for brown eggs
According to the association, brown eggs still make up around 30 percent in supermarkets, while discounters like Lidl or Aldi often no longer offer them at all. A decade ago, more brown eggs were sold than white eggs in Germany.
A survey by the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry showed that older people still have a preference for brown eggs. Younger people, on the other hand, do not attach importance to the color of the egg and pay more attention to aspects such as animal husbandry and regionality. However, anyone who values animal welfare should not buy colorful eggs in the supermarket at Easter.
In the past, brown eggs are said to have had a firmer shell
“The majority of consumers don’t really care about the color of the bowl,” confirmed a Rewe spokesman. An exception is Easter, when white eggs are preferred for dyeing. However, regardless of color, the choice between brown and white eggs has no noticeable impact on consumers. Schönecke explained that brown eggs used to have a firmer shell, but this is no longer the case today.
As the color of eggs becomes less relevant to consumers, the cost of other products in the supermarket could rise: meat is expected to become more expensive in the near future.
(asc/dpa)