The color of an egg yolk can vary from light yellow to dark orange. Does yellow make a difference for you? This is the case for many people. It is obvious that the preferences of egg consumers vary from country to country. For example, most West German buyers prefer eggs over dark egg yolks. Where does the color come from?
The color of egg yolk eggs depends on the pigments that chickens eat naturally in their diet. These pigments, called carotenoids, are found in corn and plants with green leaves, such as alfalfa. A mixture of yellow and red pigments gives the pearl its color. If there are differences in the amount of pigment in the food, the color of the egg yolk will vary considerably. When it comes to natural foods, it therefore depends a lot on the type of food and the season.
In some areas, the pale yellow eggs are of poor quality. Color matching can be achieved by adding natural carotenoids. But because these pigments have a very short shelf life, they disappear completely for up to a year in stored food. Using these foods can result in white egg yolks, and buyers can avoid these eggs.
It has been possible to artificially produce a natural carotenoid in citrus fruits. Some of these pigments can be added to the food to ensure that the egg yolk has the desired color.
So the next time you see the beautiful yellow color of egg yolks on your breakfast plate, you will get a better idea of where that color comes from.
Nice article