Egg Consumers Research Articles

Alleviating Protein Deficiency In Nigeria: The Quail Egg Alternative

The potentials of quail egg in human diet were evaluated among 44 randomly selected respondents in VOM, Plateau State. Proximate analysis indicated that quail egg has a high crude protein content of 18.2%. The findings further revealed that quail egg consumption spread across all age ranges and gender. Marital status was no barrier to quail egg consumption. Majority of the quail egg consumers were Christians (79.4%) and low-income earners (52.9%) with 58.8% consuming it for its affordability, 29.4% (for its taste) and 11.8% (for Nutritive value). Quail egg ranked 3rd position in preference to other egg types, local chicken egg (4th), Guinea fowl egg (2nd), and exotic chicken egg (1st). The survey also revealed that quail egg was cheapest in comparison to other egg types at N3.33k/egg (N100 / crate), local chicken egg and guinea fowl egg at N10.00k/egg, (N300/crate) while exotic chicken egg cost N15/egg (N450/crate). It is therefore recommended that, there should be adequate co-operation between researchers and commercial quail breeders, while government policies in food security should take into cognisance, the great potentials in quail rearing (particularly the egg) because of its very high nutritive value, excellent taste and economy of production. Keywords : Protein deficiency, quail, egg Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 6-12

Assessment of the chemical contamination in home-produced eggs in Belgium: General overview of the CONTEGG study

This overview paper describes a study conducted for the Belgian Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment during 2006–2007. Home-produced eggs from Belgian private owners of hens were included in a large study aiming to determine concentration levels of various environmental contaminants. By means of the analyses of soil samples and of kitchen waste samples, obtained from the same locations, an investigation towards the possible sources of contaminants was possible. Eggs, soils, faeces and kitchen waste samples were checked for the presence of dioxins, PCBs (including dioxin-like PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, trace elements, PAHs, brominated flame retardants and mycotoxins. The study design, sampling methodology and primary conclusions of the study are given. It was found that in some cases dioxin-like compounds were present at levels that are of concern for the health of the egg consumers. Therefore, measures to limit their contamination in eggs, produced by hens of private owners, were proposed and deserve further attention.

Nutritional Contribution of Eggs to American Diets

Objectives: The main purposes of this study were (1) to assess the nutritional significance of eggs in the American diet and (2) to estimate the degree of association between egg consumption and serum cholesterol concentration.Methods: Data from the most recent National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–94) were utilized to compare the nutritional quality indicators of diets that contained eggs (USDA food grouping system) with those that did not. Nutrient intake (from 24-hour dietary recall), egg intake (from food frequency questionnaire), sociodemographic data and blood cholesterol levels of subjects who met inclusion criteria (n=27,378) were grouped according to the occurrence and frequency of egg consumption and were analyzed using SUDAAN.Results: Daily nutrient intake of egg consumers (EC) was significantly greater than that of nonconsumers (NC) for all nutrients studied (except dietary fiber and vitamin B6). Eggs contributed < 10% of daily intake of energy and vitamin B6, 10% to 20% of folate and total, saturated and polyunsaturated fat, and 20% to 30% of vitamins A, E and B12 in EC. Compared to EC, NC had higher rates of inadequate intake (defined by Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) or < 70% Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)) for vitamin B12 (10% vs. 21%), vitamin A (16% vs. 21%), vitamin E (14% vs. 22%) and vitamin C (15% vs. 20%). After adjusting for demographic (age, gender and ethnicity) and lifestyle variables (smoking and physical activity), dietary cholesterol was not related to serum cholesterol concentration. People who reported eating ≥ 4 eggs/wk had a significantly lower mean serum cholesterol concentration than those who reported eating ≤ 1 egg/wk (193 mg/dL vs. 197 mg/dL, p < 0.01). More frequent egg consumption was negatively associated with serum cholesterol concentration (β=−6.45, p < 0.01).Conclusions: In this cross-sectional and population-based study, egg consumption made important nutritional contributions to the American diet and was not associated with high serum cholesterol concentrations.

Estimating the annual fraction of eggs contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis in the United States

Using available data on the occurrence of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) in US layer flocks and eggs, and a probabilistic scenario tree method, an estimate of the fraction of SE-contaminated eggs produced annually is derived with attendant uncertainty. In lieu of a definitive prevalence survey, the approach presented here provides insight to the relative contribution of various pathways leading to contaminated eggs. A Monte Carlo model with four branches is developed. The first branch predicts the proportion of all US flocks that are SE-affected. The second branch apportions SE-affected flocks into three categories (high, moderate, and low level affected flocks) based on population-adjusted epidemiologic data. The third branch predicts the proportion of affected flocks that are molted and producing eggs during a high risk period subsequent to molt. The fourth branch predicts the fraction of contaminated eggs produced by flocks of the type described by the pathway (e.g. high level affected flocks that are not molted) based on egg sampling evidence from naturally infected flocks. The model is simulated to account for uncertainty in the data used to estimate the branch probabilities. Correlation analysis is used to estimate the sensitivity of model output to various model inputs. The output of this model is an uncertainty distribution for the fraction of all eggs that are SE-contaminated during 1 year of production in the US. The expected value of this distribution is approximately one SE-affected egg in every 20 000 eggs annually produced, and the 90% certainty interval is between one SE-contaminated egg in 30 000 eggs, and one SE-contaminated egg in 12 000 eggs. The model estimates that an average of 14% of all eggs (i.e. contaminated and not contaminated) from affected flocks are produced by high level, non-molted affected flocks, but these flocks are estimated to account for more than two-thirds of the total fraction of contaminated eggs produced annually. Sensitivity analysis also suggests that the proportion of affected flocks that are high level flocks — and the egg contamination frequency for these types of flocks — are the most sensitive model inputs. The model’s pathways provide a framework for evaluating interventions to reduce the number of contaminated eggs produced in the US. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis of the model identifies those inputs whose uncertainty is most influential on the model’s output. Future farm-level research priorities can be established on the basis of this analysis, but public policy decisions require a fuller exposure assessment and dose-response analysis to account for microbial growth dynamics, meal preparation, and consumption demographics among US egg consumers.

Human Plasma Phospholipids and Platelet Aggregation as Markers of Omega-3 Fatty Acid consumption from Shell Eggs

LEARNING OUTCOME: The learner will be able to recognize the plasma tatty acid profile and platelet response of individuals consuming omega-3 fatty acids.Clinical studies designed to duplicate epidemiologic findings that fish consumption reduces heart disease (HD) risk are inconclusive. Researchers have speculated that either omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) are not the bioactive compounds in fish or that mediation of blood lipids may not be the mechanism by which fish lowers HD risk. Enrichment of laying hen diets with n-3 FA sources results in deposition of similar amounts of total n-3 FA into egg yolk as found in a serving of lean fish. Omega-3 FA rich shell eggs may serve as a useful tool for the study of health benefits to be derived from n-3 FA rich foods. The objectives of the current study were 1) to use plasma phospholipid fatty acid (PPLFA) composition as a marker for n-3 FA consumption from enriched eggs and 2) to determine the physiological significance of PPLFA changes through evaluation of platelet reactivity. Normolipidemic male and female subjects (n=32) were assigned randomly to consume self-selected diets restricted in n-3 FA plus either regular (C) or n-3 FA enriched shell eggs (4/week), the latter from hens fed flaxseed (F, high in linolenic acid) or menhaden oil (M, high in docosahexaenoic acid). Subjects consumed all types for 6 weeks with a 4 week washout period between each for a total of 3 test periods. PPL were separated via thin layer chromatography into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamme (PE), and FA were determined using gas-liquid chromatography. Platelet aggregation was studied using collagen stimulated platelet rich plasma samples. Dietary intake was monitored using 3-day food records (2/period) using the Nutrient Data System (University of Minnesota, 1994). Data were analyzed by analysis of variance using the general linear model procedure of SAS (SAS Institute, 1992). Subjects consuming F eggs had the highest linolenic acid (18:3n-3;LNA) intake (600 ing/week), while those consuming M eggs exhibited the greatest docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3;DHA) intake (500 mg/week). Total n-3 FA intake did not vary between the egg treatment groups. Significantly (p<.05) greater amounts of total n-3 FA were deposited into PE compared to PC. Consumption of M eggs resulted in greater PE LNA deposition than F egg consumption. Dietary LNA from F eggs appeared to be preferentially deposited in PE as DHA as PE DHA content for F and M egg consumers was the same. Consumption of either n-3 FA rich egg decreased platelet aggregation as compared to C egg consumption. These data indicate that PPLFA reflect dietary n-3 FA intake and that when packaged in another food vehicle, n-3 FA impact variables associated with HD risk.

Segmenting the UK egg market: results of a survey of consumer attitudes and perceptions

Despite the long‐term decline in per capita consumption, eggs remain an important staple in the British diet. Having recovered from the salmonella scare in 1989, the image of eggs has suffered in recent years due to the growing awareness of (and concern over) diet and health, and bird welfare. Reports the results of a recent consumer survey and concludes that there is a polarization of egg consumers, with free‐range consumers at one extreme, largely influenced by bird welfare, and battery consumers at the other, for whom functional properties (size and shell) and value for money are the major factors determining egg purchasing behaviour.

Contamination of the food chain by polychlorinated biphenyls from a broken transformer.

In 1979, widespread distribution of chicken and egg food products and grease contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) occurred across the United States and as far away as Canada and Japan. The contamination was traced to an accidental leakage of PCBs from a transformer stored in a hog slaughtering plant in Montana. Breast milk analyses showed the PCB absorption had occurred among egg consumers. The episode illustrates the need for heightened vigilance over the fate of PCBs still in use.

Habits, Preferences and Demands of Des Moines Egg Consumers ,

THE present study is designed to determine: (1) the habits, preferences and demands of egg consumers in relation t o income and other socio-economic factors in Des Moines, Iowa, (2) changes during the last 10 years in preferences and demand, (3) the degree to which market agents are aware of consumer demands and the effectiveness of these market agents in satisfying them. This paper deals with portions of the first objective of this study.Morse (1942) studied habits and preferences of Des Moines consumers. Comparisons between that study and the present study will be made in a later report. Stevens (1947) studied buying habits and preferences of Richland County, Ohio egg consumers. Thomsen and Winton (1933) reported on yolk color and shell color preferences of consumers in New York City. Lininger and Charles (1928) studied sources of supply and yolk color preferences of Pennsylvania consumers. Corbett (1933) studied in detail .