Brown Eggs vs White Eggs: Which has more nutrition?

The debate around brown eggs vs white eggs has been around for many years, with no clear verdict on the same - while brown eggs can cost a little more, does it have any nutritional edge over its white counterpart? Let's see....
To answer this question, we first have to look into what causes the color of the egg (shell) to be brown or white. For starters, know that non commercial eggs come in all sorts of hues - grays and blues, and greens, depending on the breed of the chicken laying them. However, most stores, and local kirana kiosks, stock up on the commercial eggs that come in only brown or white. What determines the color of the shell, again, is the breed of the chicken. While most white eggs are laid by chickens with white feathers and earlobes, most brown eggs by the ones with red feathers and earlobes. However, in some breeds, the reverse might be true, so this is not an exact science.


On the other hand, scientists, after years of research, have reached the conclusion that there is little to no difference in the nutritional value of brown vs white eggs, unless you are specifically choosing omega-3 enrichments, where the feed of the chicken is enhanced to up the nutrition quotient. Hence, in a nutshell, unless you have an affiliation to the color of the egg (brown or white), it really does not matter what you pick for consumption. Brown egg contains healthy fats, including omega-3 and it supports heart health, brain function, and hormone production.
Taste wise too, all commercial eggs taste the same, with only a minor alteration here and there, depending on what the chicken has been fed. Fresh farm eggs, if sourced in time, can have a deeper orange color, rather than the bright yellow one, and their yolks might appear to be more 'eggier' than the rest. This apart, there is negligible difference to its composition, and one should consume what one can afford, and personally prefers.

According to Michigan State University Extension, most eggs start out white. It is said that to get that brown color, certain extra nutrients are needed for the chicken, because of which the price of the brown egg is slightly steeper than its white counterpart. However, this does not make a drastic change to its nutritional value. Brown eggs are often perceived as healthier or more natural, though the shell color itself doesn't affect nutrition. They are more likely to be marketed as organic or free-range. Brown eggs are a natural source of essential vitamins like B12, B2 (riboflavin), A, D, and E, and minerals such as selenium, phosphorus, and iron. These nutrients boost immunity, support bone health, and improve energy levels.


Instead of going for a specific color of eggs, one must look at what the chickens are being fed, which can make a nutritional difference. According to a 2023 review in Poultry Science, chickens fed with omega-3 polyunsaturated fats (such as flaxseed) tend to lay eggs with yolks with healthier fats. However, it needs to be added that this report is not conclusive.