cheryl
Administrator
Staff member
The FoodPrint of Eggs - Food Print
The average American eats approximately 277 eggs per year. At roughly 70 calories each, with six grams of protein, important vitamins and minerals and no sugars, an egg is a nutritional powerhouse. Eggs are eaten not just scrambled or over-easy, but are used by food companies as binders, emulsifiers, leavening agents, thickeners and more and are therefore a key ingredient in many processed foods, from baked goods to dressings. 2
Yet not all eggs are created equal. The eggs in packaged cinnamon buns and fast food breakfast sandwiches come from hens stacked together in tiny cages or in cramped barns. In fact, most eggs sold in the supermarket come from such environments, too, no matter how idyllic the farm scene on the carton. While it is important to understand the reality of how eggs get to our plates, what their labels mean and how we can support a healthier system, let’s first discuss what eggs should be if our food system were better for animals, people and the environment.
The average American eats approximately 277 eggs per year. At roughly 70 calories each, with six grams of protein, important vitamins and minerals and no sugars, an egg is a nutritional powerhouse. Eggs are eaten not just scrambled or over-easy, but are used by food companies as binders, emulsifiers, leavening agents, thickeners and more and are therefore a key ingredient in many processed foods, from baked goods to dressings. 2
Yet not all eggs are created equal. The eggs in packaged cinnamon buns and fast food breakfast sandwiches come from hens stacked together in tiny cages or in cramped barns. In fact, most eggs sold in the supermarket come from such environments, too, no matter how idyllic the farm scene on the carton. While it is important to understand the reality of how eggs get to our plates, what their labels mean and how we can support a healthier system, let’s first discuss what eggs should be if our food system were better for animals, people and the environment.