International egg industry pledges to help feed the world

Friday 12th October is World Egg Day, and this year, the international egg industry is using the event to really make a difference. With the support of the International Egg Commission (IEC) and egg associations around the world, the egg industry has pledged to help feed the underfed and undernourished; to provide a sustainable, affordable, high quality food supply to people across the planet.

As part of the global egg industry’s commitment to helping those in need, the IEC is starting to work with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The FAO is dedicated to making sure that people throughout the world have regular access to high quality food, and eggs can play an integral role in achieving this.

World Egg Day was established in 1996, by the IEC. IEC Chairman, Joanne Ivy, explained: “Since 1996 events have been held all around the world celebrating the egg and the vital role it plays in people’s diets right across the globe. As an industry we feel very privileged to be producing a product that can benefit so many people throughout the world, so this year on World Egg Day, we are publicly pledging to work with food organisations and developing nations to help provide access to eggs for everyone.

“We are fully committed to our industry’s corporate and social responsibilities, and we are delighted to be working alongside the Food and Agriculture Organisation, being able to support it in its work to provide high quality food for all.”

It is estimated that across the world, one billion people are currently underfed and undernourished, and that during the next 40 years, the population will increase by further 3 billion people.

Eggs have the power to feed the world’s growing population – as well as being an excellent source of high quality protein, containing the essential vitamins and minerals required for a healthy diet, eggs are an affordable and readily available source of food throughout most of the world, and have the added advantage of having a low carbon footprint.

This year on World Egg Day events will take place all around the world, from New Zealand, to Mongolia, South Africa to Canada; there will be festivals, competitions, nutritional talks and cooking demonstrations in city squares, shopping centres, community centres and schools throughout the world. As the world joins together to celebrate this exceptional food, what nutritionists have referred to as “a mineral cocktail” and “nature’s vitamin pill”, make sure that your organisation gets involved – let’s get cracking and celebrate World Egg Day, Friday 12th October.
www.worldeggday.com