World Egg Day promotes versatility, nutrition and taste
The second Friday of October is always earmarked as the day to celebrate the humble egg, and 2016 has been no different.
Farmers, food businesses and consumers all found time this World Egg Day (14 October) to appreciate the versatility, nutrition and – let’s face it – tastiness of eggs.
This year, a campaign will highlight the fact that eggs are “nature’s ultimate source of high-quality protein”, and their role in alleviating hunger across the globe.
The World Egg Organisation (WEO), which co-ordinates the day, said the protein present in eggs:
- Aided foetal development;
- Aided healthy brain development;
- Improved concentration levels;
- Supported the body’s immune system;
- And was essential to support the effectiveness of vaccinations and antiretroviral drugs.
WEO director general Julian Madeley said: “Eggs can make a crucial contribution to our diet on an individual level, and can also help to fulfil the protein requirements of the global community.”
Other egg businesses in the UK got involved – after all, World Egg Day coincides with British Egg Week.
Lincolnshire-based packers LJ Fairburn launched a series of “perfect egg” videos designed “to encourage, engage and excite consumers about the simplicity and ease with which eggs can feature on the kitchen table”.
Fairburn once again enlisted the help of celebrity chef Rachel Green, and family member Jenson, to show shoppers how to make the perfect fried egg.
Louise Fairburn, brand and sales director at the packer, said: Our new perfect egg videos display the egg in its most humble forms – poached, fried, scrambled and boiled.
“For British Egg week we have gone back to basics and are enjoying eggs on their own, at their very best – we are letting the eggs do the talking.”
And both the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) and charity the British Hen Welfare Trust had separate campaigns to mark the occasion.
BFREPA released research suggesting consumers were happy to pay a premium for eggs laid by free-range hens.
https://twitter.com/LoveFreeRange/status/786808762753388544
And BHWT marked the occasion by calling on shoppers to switch to free range.
It's #BritishEggWeek! We'll be sharing our favourite recipes and egg facts all week to celebrate! #freerange #buyBritish #happyhens pic.twitter.com/QSggX3palz
— British Hen Welfare Trust (@BHWTOfficial) October 11, 2016
Here is a selection of Tweets from British Egg Week – and World Egg Day.
Happy #WorldEggDay! Have an EGGtra special day! pic.twitter.com/z69O78iLHz
— Burnbrae Farms (@BurnbraeFarms) October 14, 2016
I really don't need this awareness day #WorldEggDay
— John Prescott (@johnprescott) October 14, 2016
#WorldEggDay is coming up on Friday & we'll be premiering a new video to celebrate! Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/4TsR7thWyG
— Egg Farmers (@eggsoeufs) October 11, 2016
We're so grateful for the work done by our British poultry farmers for #WorldEggDay https://t.co/opbIXd9YEv @NFU_Poultry pic.twitter.com/IRIPSPr9Z5
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets) October 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/thehappyeggco/status/785404506267914240