How to Be a Conscious Eater

what else might you factor into the decision to eat them or

not? Two main things: First, on the bright side, eggs score

high for providing a heavy dose of protein while leaving only a

light footprint on the planet, according to the World Resources

Institute’s Protein Scorecard. Second, on the dark side, beware

of animal welfare concerns when buying eggs, because differ-

ent producers treat egg-laying hens differently, and the status

quo isn’t pretty.

IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING...

3 BOTTOM LINES ON 3 OTHER

EGGS-ISTENTIAL QUESTIONS

1 Brown eggs are no better for you than white ones. The

shell color, along with the size, reflects the breed of

chicken the egg came from.

2 For most people’s health, it doesn’t matter if you eat eggs

whole or just the whites, unless you’re watching calories.

3 In Europe and elsewhere, or if you raise chickens yourself

or get them from a farmers’ market, eggs don’t need

refrigeration. This is because eggs have a naturally

protective outer layer. Commercially produced eggs in

the United States need refrigerating because that layer is

power-washed off. This occurs because of USDA concerns

about eliminating any dirt on the shell that could pose

a food safety risk. Except this practice actually makes

the porous shell vulnerable to contamination. Seems

ludicrous, if you ask me.

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