Ah, the egg. What a peculiar food item. Prized for its high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals, the egg has held a decades-long reign at breakfast tables around the world. Whether scrambled, poached, frittata’d, or made into omelets, eggs are beloved by millions. At least they were. According to a new report by Nielsen, unit sales of eggs has declined by 3.6 percent this year, a trend that has been occurring for the last three years.
So, why are people not buying as many eggs? After all, aren’t they still the same healthy superfoods as before? Well, no. While yes, eggs are pretty versatile, consumers have discovered there are plenty of other options, and healthier ones at that! Considering that all too often, eggy breakfast items are usually sandwiched between thick pieces of bread, drenched in cheese, and topped with bacon, Americans have realized that if they want to lead a healthy lifestyle, eating eggs is hardly the way to go about it.
Understandably, the egg industry is trying anything to stay relevant. A few years ago, they began touting egg whites as a healthier alternative to those looking to avoid the fatty egg yolk. Unfortunately for the egg industry, since egg yolks are used for mayonnaise, pasta, and ice cream, they could not possibly boost egg production solely for the purpose of egg white sales, and so it was back to the drawing board.
Seeing that people were starting to increasingly become concerned with animal welfare, the industry started boasting better conditions for chickens and soon restaurants and supermarkets everywhere began singing praises about the “humane” cage-free eggs they were selling. Well, as more people are becoming aware of, cage-free eggs are hardly a humane alternative. In fact, the title is depressingly literal, and chickens who have been “liberated from their cages” now are just clustered into tiny sheds with STILL hardly any space to move around.
So, is it too early to say the egg era is ending? We don’t think so! While the egg industry scrambles to think of a new game plan, competitors are swooping in. Follow Your Heart, just released their vegan egg this year, a product that has gotten rave reviews from consumers. And products that usually contain eggs, like mayo and ice cream, also have egg-free, plant-based alternatives now. Ben & Jerry’s, So Delicious, Coconut Bliss, and a handful of other companies have released vegan ice creams with extreme success, and Hampton Creek revolutionized the condiment section with their stellar mayonnaise. Heck, even Hellmann’s, the company that originally fought Hampton Creek for calling their pea protein-based mayo, despite the fact that the spread is allegedly defined by the use of eggs, is making a vegan mayo of their own!
Eggs aren’t just dying out at the consumer level either – around one-third of eggs produced end up in food products like muffins, cookies, and mayonnaise. Given the fact that egg costs are rising and consumers are increasingly looking for clean, healthy options, the restaurant and food service industry would benefit from finding egg replacers. With new plant-based alternatives coming out every month, consumers are starting to realize how archaic and unnecessary this industry is.
As Nil Zacharias, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of One Green Planet aptly put, “The fact is, the more people are waking up to the reality that eggs are terrible from an animal welfare standpoint and they’re also not the best option when it comes to their health, the health of the planet. As a result, they’re looking for better, innovative options. In the past year alone, there has been a huge surge in plant-based options for everything from mayo to scrambled eggs themselves. Why try and fix the broken egg industry when you can just create a better one that cuts animals out of the process?”
Considering that industrial animal agriculture is among the leading causes of water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the world how cruel, a post-egg era is not only exciting but tremendously necessary for the well-being of the public as well as our planet. Sorry not sorry, eggs. We won’t miss you!
Ready for some awesome egg-free recipes? Check out these – and enjoy!
Image source: Tofu Scramble Stuffed Avocado
I only buy from humanly raised, chickens that eat nature. They are a very healthy part of my diet!
You aren’t thinking about the billions of male chicks ground alive, gassed, or tossed aside in plastic bags to die. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuvUVDlDuOY
You aren’t thinking about the billions of male chicks ground alive, gassed, or tossed aside in plastic bags to die. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuvUVDlDuOY
I have no words to say how F****ng Horrible this is!!
I have no words to say how F****ng Horrible this is!!
Robin Trelly Nothing healthy about it, and its weird as fuck…
Robin Trelly Nothing healthy about it, and its weird as fuck…
There is no such thing as ‘humane’ animal products. Eggs aren’t ours to take, and as long as we view animals as commodities and exploit and steal from them, even in backyards, slaughterhouses will exist.
Chickens should eat their own eggs for their lost nutrients, and if they don’t want them other critters or insects can have them. They aren’t ours to take. Not your ovaries, not your eggs.
There is no such thing as ‘humane’ animal products. Eggs aren’t ours to take, and as long as we view animals as commodities and exploit and steal from them, even in backyards, slaughterhouses will exist.
Chickens should eat their own eggs for their lost nutrients, and if they don’t want them other critters or insects can have them. They aren’t ours to take. Not your ovaries, not your eggs.
Ruth Owen Bodeman, me either. But, it riles me to hear people talk about “humane eggs.” No such thing.
Ruth Owen Bodeman, me either. But, it riles me to hear people talk about “humane eggs.” No such thing.
The meat and dairy industries CANNOT be called “humane”. Please go vegan.
The meat and dairy industries CANNOT be called “humane”. Please go vegan.
How do you know she doesn’t get them from a wee local farm? Nowt wrong w that.
We had pet chickens, they didn’t give 2 figs if we ate their eggs. They are a waste product. They just lost them most of the time anyway.
We always found clutches of eggs hidden and forgotten all over the place.
How do you know she doesn’t get them from a wee local farm? Nowt wrong w that.
We had pet chickens, they didn’t give 2 figs if we ate their eggs. They are a waste product. They just lost them most of the time anyway.
We always found clutches of eggs hidden and forgotten all over the place.
And before anyone complains about us keeping hens a commodities, we rescued them from battery farms. Half beaks, red eyes, couldn’t walk, nae feathers. Awful!
But eventually they were coaxed in to health.
I don’t think eating their eggs bothered them one iota.
We crushed the shells in their feed.
And before anyone complains about us keeping hens a commodities, we rescued them from battery farms. Half beaks, red eyes, couldn’t walk, nae feathers. Awful!
But eventually they were coaxed in to health.
I don’t think eating their eggs bothered them one iota.
We crushed the shells in their feed.
Grant Nicholas Woodhouse ??????
Toni Marzeva we are talking eggs here. Not chickens
Robin Trelly How do you think they get the eggs?!! CHICKENS and they need FEMALE CHICKENS to get the EGGS! If a male CHICKEN is born it get grinded at birth. Stop eating CHICKEN PERIODS that they literally shit out of their cloaca
You know… If someone had wanted to eat my ‘period’ then I’d have gladly handed it over… Waste not, want not, as they say… I sure as hell never got tempted to eat it… Maybe because my diet was already balanced and I wasn’t lacking any vital nutrients… THATS the real issue – if your chickens are eating their own eggs, then you probably need to look at their diet… Just sayin’… And for the record, grinding male chicks is despicable. Eating eggs is not. Most of us with small farms have roosters as well as chickens. Who’d have thought there was an alternative huh? A happy medium even…
You know… If someone had wanted to eat my ‘period’ then I’d have gladly handed it over… Waste not, want not, as they say… I sure as hell never got tempted to eat it… Maybe because my diet was already balanced and I wasn’t lacking any vital nutrients… THATS the real issue – if your chickens are eating their own eggs, then you probably need to look at their diet… Just sayin’… And for the record, grinding male chicks is despicable. Eating eggs is not. Most of us with small farms have roosters as well as chickens. Who’d have thought there was an alternative huh? A happy medium even…
Grant Nicholas Woodhouse I said in my post I only eat eggs from people who raise their own. They don’t grind any.
More cities are allowing or considering allowing residents to keep chickens. Urban/suburban homesteading is becoming quite popular.
Fuck ppl who “raise their own”. You make me sick. Eat some fucking vegetables and stop exploiting non humans. Stop eating their periods. For fucks sake! That is what eggs are, you know that right? They are NOT yours to exploit. You do know that there are 80,000+ fruits, seeds, nuts, vegetables, rice, legumes, etc. Your life is no more important than ANY other living being on this planet.
Oh my god. You are so annoying. Shut the fuck up.
Hey, I can tell your the ‘all or nothing’ type vegan and that’s cool, we all have different motivations for getting where we are today, but consider those who are transitioning or simply looking for a low impact source. For me personally I am vegan but my partner is not (mostly veg at home apart from eggs and occasionally dairy)… So in order to make the least impact possible we rescue hens and collect his daily eggs. This world is full of variables.
Ps. Written text has no context, read this with a kind smile because that’s how I wrote it, much love x
You know what really makes me sick? Self righteous vegans. If you’re right, why are you so angry?
Celena White no anger just Iain for the hurt and cruelty inflicting on animals. Take a look at the information available, it is shocking his animals are treated. Look at cowspiracy.com that also details the negative impact on the environment farming has. Look I wish all hearts love, joy, peace with health, happiness, and a fearless life….. At this point in my evolution I can only truly give that blessing to all animals. I’m working on the so called most intelligent animal… Hmmmm the destructive human. You know we are all one right? Think what we are made of, what animals are made of. Think how Mother Nature can sustain all if we let her be. You need to educate yourself…
Celena White no anger just Iain for the hurt and cruelty inflicting on animals. Take a look at the information available, it is shocking his animals are treated. Look at cowspiracy.com that also details the negative impact on the environment farming has. Look I wish all hearts love, joy, peace with health, happiness, and a fearless life….. At this point in my evolution I can only truly give that blessing to all animals. I’m working on the so called most intelligent animal… Hmmmm the destructive human. You know we are all one right? Think what we are made of, what animals are made of. Think how Mother Nature can sustain all if we let her be. You need to educate yourself…
Honey, I raise my own ducks and geese. I can assure you, if I didn’t go collect the eggs they would lay on the ground and rot. None of my ducks brood. They are well cared for and have their own pond. Bless y’all for caring about animals but screaming “FUCK YOU” at people that have backyard chickens and other birds is not helping anything.
Honey, I raise my own ducks and geese. I can assure you, if I didn’t go collect the eggs they would lay on the ground and rot. None of my ducks brood. They are well cared for and have their own pond. Bless y’all for caring about animals but screaming “FUCK YOU” at people that have backyard chickens and other birds is not helping anything.
Simple minded people yell the loudest everyone. Don’t worry. She’s stupid
Simple minded people yell the loudest everyone. Don’t worry. She’s stupid
Julie Livingston. I rarely eat eggs but your attitude stinks. Bible bashing Vegans ! Have you ever had any medical treatment-yes, of course you have and everything-yes everything including paracetamol will have been tested on an animal at some point. Eating an egg from a home reared chicken is significantly less cruel in comparison.
Julie Livingston. I rarely eat eggs but your attitude stinks. Bible bashing Vegans ! Have you ever had any medical treatment-yes, of course you have and everything-yes everything including paracetamol will have been tested on an animal at some point. Eating an egg from a home reared chicken is significantly less cruel in comparison.
Julie, So you want me to starve my family in winter? I have the right to eat whatever the hell I want to eat. And so do you. I plant veggies in the spring but for my size of land I cannot produce enough to feed my family in winter. Thank God for deer and eggs bc they keep my grocery bill as small as possible in wintertime.
Julie, So you want me to starve my family in winter? I have the right to eat whatever the hell I want to eat. And so do you. I plant veggies in the spring but for my size of land I cannot produce enough to feed my family in winter. Thank God for deer and eggs bc they keep my grocery bill as small as possible in wintertime.
You are either vegan or your not. Don’t justify non Hunan exploitation with bs comments. The person that commented that they couldn’t go a day without eating eggs, etc. deleted their comment. My comment was directed at that person. You will not starve by not eating non human flesh and bodily fluids. Thou shalt not kill.
You are either vegan or your not. Don’t justify non Hunan exploitation with bs comments. The person that commented that they couldn’t go a day without eating eggs, etc. deleted their comment. My comment was directed at that person. You will not starve by not eating non human flesh and bodily fluids. Thou shalt not kill.
Shut up. You aren’t all knowing. Your ass wouldn’t be here today if your ancestors didn’t get vitamins from animal sources. I’m vegan but I’m not a stuck up asshole like you.
Shut up. You aren’t all knowing. Your ass wouldn’t be here today if your ancestors didn’t get vitamins from animal sources. I’m vegan but I’m not a stuck up asshole like you.
You welcome to eat my period. Once it’s out of me it’s waste. I’m not attached to it
No one is even taking to you Emily AnnieloriBelle Lee. I will not ever be silent so that you may be comfortable.
We had pet chickens, they didn’t give 2 figs if we ate their eggs. They are a waste product. They just lost them most of the time anyway.
We always found clutches of eggs hidden and forgotten all over the place.
And before anyone complains about us keeping hens a commodities, we rescued them from battery farms. Half beaks, red eyes, couldn’t walk, nae feathers. Awful!
But eventually they were coaxed in to health.
I don’t think us eating some of their eggs bothered them one iota.
We crushed the shells in their feed.
So Julie Livingston – how would you feel about people who rescue their chickens from battery farms and give them a life where they roam free and are happy laying eggs? I see only good in that
Wow. I think you all know that I’m talking about ppl who exploit non humans for their benefit alone. Of course I think that rescue is the thing to do.
I think you’re a great candidate to start a chicken rescue farm! I’m all for it. Of course, you will have to do a LOT of work to keep the place clean, and the chickens healthy. And you’ll need to have a lot of quarantine areas because chickens attack other chickens that are weak or injured. Then there’s the water to be kept clean, and the heat during the winter, and getting bags of feed and grit from the feed store, and bedding, which will have to be changed daily. It would be a great project. Especially the male chicks that grow to be roosters, which crow at 3:45 a.m. every day. Great alarm clocks!
I don’t give a fuck if no one is talking to me. You are an idiot
Is this post an attempt to alienate people from veganism? Good job.
Emily AnnieloriBelle Lee You are obviously the idiot. You must not be able to read. Troll.
Lol okay
Well, eventually something will eat that unfertilized egg from my chickens. Might as well be me.
Well, eventually something will eat that unfertilized egg from my chickens. Might as well be me.
holy crap lighten up there ‘Crazy Town’..
Lol…my god, my chickens give me and friends eggs, and they live pretty well, free range most of the time and when I call for them they come running cause I might have treats….some people need to chill.
Did any of you even read this article? May I suggest you do so before you make any more dumb ass comments.
I doubt the chickens give two shits as long as they’re fed and cared for. They don’t even no what exploitation means. Chickens should be treated humanly but they are not the same as us and do not hold the same sort of values as you. We need to treat animals with respect and kindness but that doesn’t mean we impose our values and lifestyle.
Should we cut and clip dogs ears & tattoo sphynx cats and impose our desire for ascetics onto them? Hell no. But picking up after chickens and making use of it is like complaining about using cow poop as fertilizer for plants and calling it exploitation. The cows don’t care what you do with it as long as they don’t have to live in it.
What are people supposed to do with abandoned eggs then? Leave them to go bad? That doesn’t sound very sanitary that just sounds wasteful.
People should work together with animals and with nature with respect.
Ethical veganism should be about being loving and kind to all creatures so why are there so many angry vegans getting angry at people for something as simple as this? I’ve seen people go vegetarian then be criticized for not going vegan or vegans for not being full vegan 100% or eating questionably vegan things like eggs or honey. No one praises anyone for trying or for succeeding in making a significant impact in lessening purchases towards animal products. I know people who are omnivores but who buy only cruelty free brands of makeup, body washes etc..and who volunteer for animal shelters and help animals find loving homes. I think any kind act deservers reconignition. They should not be treated the same way as people who work at factory farms who have blatant disregard for the fact they are handling a living thing.
Also the article said nothing about why eggs from humanly raised chickens would be bad for you.
