The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) poultry board is encouraging everyone to get involved and “showcase the best of British poultry production” this World Egg Day (today, Friday, October 14).
One way to help British poultry farmers, according to the union, is to promote the nutritional benefits of eggs.
World Egg Day aims to celebrate the potential eggs has to offer, not just nutritionally, but also for planetary health and people’s livelihoods. This year’s theme is ‘eggs for a better life’.
It was established in Vienna in 1996, where it was decided to celebrate the egg on the second Friday in October every year.
Last year, thousands of NFU members and members of the public took to social media on World Egg Day to promote the benefits of eating eggs and the NFU wants to make this year’s celebration “bigger and better”.
The union is asking members to share their story of how they produce high-quality British eggs on this year’s World Egg Day.
It has created a suite of shareable content to help members showcase the British poultry industry on social media, covering both the egg and poultry sector.
British eggs
The vice chair of the NFU poultry board, Phil Crawley, said that British poultry production is among the best and most sustainable in the world.
11.3 billion eggs were produced in the UK in 2021 and, by being 92% self-sufficient, British eggs find “their way into people’s eggcups throughout the country every single day”, Crawley said.
“Average consumption currently stands at 202 eggs/person/year and has grown from 171 eggs/person/year in 2004,” he said.
“Most growth has been in retail consumption, which has risen from 1.6 eggs/person/week to 2.3 eggs/person/week.”
A farmer from Leicestershire, Crawley keeps laying hens on his farm and produces, packs and supplies his own eggs.
“One of the best things is to see a customer collecting their eggs from our vending machine and connecting with where their food is produced,” he said.
Crawley said that the egg sector is currently facing a difficult period, with rising energy costs and the threat of avian influenza (bird flu).
“Whilst working to find solutions to some of the biggest challenges the sector has ever faced, we must also embrace the opportunities to shout about all the positive elements of egg production,” he said.
“Eggs provide a versatile, affordable, and nutritious protein source and I am proud to produce eggs to high standards so that consumers can enjoy eating them.”
