Why do brown eggs cost more than white ones in a supermarket and what are the differences?

The question that many shoppers have when parading up and down the isles is: why are brown eggs so much more expensive than white eggs? Well, the answer might not have as much science behind it as you may think...

A widespread misconception suggests that brown eggs are superior due to their higher price, but in reality, there’s no variance in their nutritional value. White eggs are more prevalent due to their lower cost, yet the decision between brown and white eggs boils down to personal preference. Regardless of colour, both types perform equally well in any recipe.

‘No nutritional difference’ between brown and white eggs

“Basically, there is no difference between a brown egg and a white egg nutritionally. It has to do with the breed of the chicken,” explained Daniel Brey, owner of Brey’s Egg Farm, told Yahoo. The farm produces more than 200,000 white eggs a day.

Different types of chickens, like White Leghorns, produce eggs with white shells, whereas breeds like Rhode Island Reds lay eggs with brown shells.

Brey explains that the expense and flavor of the eggs, whether white or brown, depend on the type and quantity of feed given to the hens. “The chicken feed plays a significant role,” Brey states. “Producing a dozen brown eggs is more costly because the hens that lay them typically consume more feed.”

Outbreaks of Bird Flu could be keeping egg prices high compared to last year. If egg producers aren’t able to meet demand because they’ve had to cull their chicken population due to bird flu, then that can raise prices.

At the time of writing, a dozen white eggs sits at around $2.50 in stores, according to the latest weekly government data, which is up from $1.50 a dozen from just a year ago.