After a Tesco customer shared a video highlighting the number of white eggs on sale at their local supermarket as opposed to brown ones, others shared a number of theories about the change

A Tesco customer has taken to TikTok to share their confusion over the apparent sudden influx of white eggs in their local branch. In a video, they showed themselves opening various cartons of eggs, including Tesco’s own range of medium and large free-range eggs.

While some boxes contained a mix of white and brown eggs, others were entirely filled with white ones. “Can someone explain to me why we have had an influx in white eggs in Tesco?” the puzzled shopper asked. “Eggs are now white like in America?”

Fellow TikTok users were quick to offer a variety of explanations, with many suggesting it was a cost-cutting measure by the supermarket giant. ” Different breed of chicken with lower feed costs and higher yield,” one user suggested.

Another theorised: “White chickens lay more (white) eggs than brown, and were mainly used in mass catering factories, until the pandemic when we ate more eggs at home, and the factories used less, they started to be a popular choice with many, so supermarkets now sell both brown and white, instead of just brown.”

And a third person claimed: “The colour is to do with the quality of conditions they’re kept in. Unfortunately bird flu has been bad for about four years now and it’s meant a huge number of chickens have been cooped. Being cooped also affects what they’re fed so they don’t produce too much mess and get infections etc so it’s a bad situation for the quality of eggs when bird flu is rife.”

While some people have raised concerns about the reappearance of white eggs on supermarket shelves, others insist there’s no need for worry. They point out that white eggs were once more prevalent and say it’s simply about the chicken breed. “It’s just the breed of chicken that’s all,” explained one shopper. “Nothing wrong with them. Some farms are changing breed of chicken that’s all produce more eggs. It’s just supply and demand.”

Memories from older Brits further confirm this as one individual recalled: “All eggs were white in the 60s/70s when I was a kid. Mid 70s brown eggs came on the scene.” Whilst similarly a second noted: “Up until the early 1970s, white eggs were popular in the UK. However, during the late 1970s the number of white eggs began to diminish as consumers expressed a preference for brown eggs.”

Tesco itself, meanwhile, confirmed an “unprecedented demand” for eggs has led it to stock the “far rarer” white variety for the first time in more than 40 years. As one TikTok user had referred to above, the supermarket explained that the pandemic saw an increase in interest in home baking, resulting in a 30% increase in demand for eggs.

The company added that demand for white eggs previously fell due to “misconceptions” they were inferior in quality, with many people also incorrectly believing they had been bleached. Tesco eggs buying manager Megan Kilby said: “The initial trial during the lockdown has been a success and we will now be stocking white free range eggs for the first time in more than 40 years. These eggs are used throughout the restaurant industry so shoppers can be assured of their quality.

“The move could also have a massive agricultural benefit as white hens are more docile than brown ones and lay eggs for longer and more reliably too.”