Fascinating facts to celebrate World Egg Day
Friday 13th October is World Egg Day and this year, the theme is ‘Eggs for a healthy future’. It’sis a celebration of all things wonderful about the humble egg – and there’s a lot to love about these oval marvels.
The annual observance was established in 1996 by the International Egg Commission, as a way for individuals, egg producers and organisations to promote the consumption of and education about eggs – particularly their nutritional benefits.
It’s safe to say that, here at the British Hen Welfare Trust, we think eggs deserve to be put in the spotlight. So, to help mark the day, we bring you our favourite egg-related facts…
Eggs are eggscellent! Here’s why…
1. They’re completely cracking (in a good way)
Eggs have long been lauded as a bit of a super food, but did you know that in addition to being a complete source of protein they also contain ‘good’ cholesterol? Choline – which promotes normal cell activity and lutein – also helps prevent cataracts and muscle degeneration. As if that wasn’t enough, a serving of two eggs contains 59% of the recommended dietary intake of selenium and 14% of the RDA for iron, which makes them one of the most nutrient dense, complete foods available.
2. How do you like your eggs in the morning?
The most popular way to cook eggs in the UK is to scramble them, with 71% of people plumping for that as their breakfast of choice. Frying came a close second, with an omelette in third place. In America, boiled eggs take pole position, with soft boiled being the favourite.
3. Eggs around the world
Japan consumes the most eggs with the average person eating around 320 per year, compared to 200 per year here in the UK. One of the most popular ways to serve eggs in Japan is a dish called Tamagokakegohan. This is typically served for breakfast and consists of a raw egg on boiled rice, flavoured with a splash of soy sauce.
4. Size matters
The heaviest egg ever laid, according to the Guiness World Records, was a hefty 454g. It was laid by an unnamed White Leghorn in New Jersey back in 1956 and had a double yolk and a double shell! The UK record for the largest egg lays with Harriet the hen, who produced a whopper that measured 23.1cm in 2010.
5. Henlightening figures
The average hen takes between 24-26 hours to produce a single egg. She will lay between 300 and 325 eggs per year and, if she becomes broody, will turn each egg 50 times a day to stop the yolk from sticking.
6. Fresh is best
Where to store your eggs is an ongoing debate – but did you know that an egg will age more in one day when kept at room temperature than it will in one week in the fridge?
7. You must be yolking
Terrible puns aside, we all love the thrill of finding a double yolker, right? Well just imagine the glee that Diane Hainsworth of New York felt one sunny July morning in 1971 when she discovered her hen had a laid an egg with not one, not two but nine yolks! That’s one heck of an omelette!
Do you want to know more about the fascinating lives of hens? Or are you keen to learn about hen health and welfare? Then head here for more articles.
