Food experts crack myth that happier hens lay gold yolked eggs

Investigation for TV shopping show reveals birds’ diet dictates yolk colour

PREMIUM “golden yolk” eggs aren’t always a sign of a healthier hen as some have just been fed paprika, an investigation has found.

Shoppers are being charged nearly twice as much for boxes of eggs with yolks described as “sunny” and “golden”, Channel 4’s Supershoppers programme found.

Food experts have revealed that the deep colour of yolks in many “sunny” or “golden” eggs actually comes from maize and paprika in their diets, and not necessarily from any added nutritional content.

The finding will dispel a long held belief by many consumers that a rich yolk colour is a sign of a better raised chicken and a more nutritious egg.

The description on boxes of Happy Eggs reads: “We know that if we keep our girls happy they’ll lay tasty eggs with rich golden yolks. That’s why our path to happiness ensures they have the highest standards of care.”

According to the Happy Egg website, its birds are fed on a recipe containing “marigold and paprika”.

Boxes of own-brand freerange eggs cost around 90p from most supermarkets, whereas six sunny yolked eggs from the Happy Egg Company retail at £1.50.

Morrisons’ Free Range Golden Yolk Eggs cost £1.85. Cormac O’shea, associate professor of animal nutrition at the University of Nottingham, said: “It basically means something has been added to the hen’s food, whether it’s maize or anything that has pigment; carrots, red peppers or yellow peppers will also have that same benefit.

“So the golden yolk is all down to colour in their food. Shoppers are prepared to pay more for eggs with rosy coloured yolks as they associate it with a healthy sign of the hen that laid the egg. We believe a golden yolk equals a happy hen, equals a better egg. We’ve been buying in to that one for generations.”

Stuart Agnew, marketing director at Noble Foods, which owns Happy Eggs, said: “Our consumer research revealed that people view the colour of a yolk as the signal of the egg’s quality. We believe we are the first company to achieve the dark golden colour through natural additions to our hens’ diets.”

A Morrisons spokeswoman said: “Our ‘The Best’ Medium Free Range Golden Yolk Eggs are from marans heritage breed hens, which lay fewer eggs a year. They naturally produce a deep brown shell egg with a darker coloured – nearly orange – yolk, and a more distinctive taste.

“It is the hen’s breed that influences the yolk colour as well as the natural maize diet they are fed.”

The Supershoppers episode is aired on Monday.

‘Shoppers are prepared to pay more for eggs with rosy coloured yolks’