An influencer has sparked debate by claiming that expensive Burford Brown eggs are not worth the premium price, revealing that their dark yolks are achieved through the addition of marigold and paprika to the hens' feed. Sunna Van Kampen, known as @tonichealth on TikTok, posted a video to his 683,000 followers arguing that consumers should opt for cheaper organic eggs instead.
In the footage, filmed in a Waitrose supermarket, Mr Van Kampen held a six-pack of Clarence Court Burford Brown eggs, which retail for £4.20, and stated: 'The reason why your yolks are so dark and orange when you pay money for a Burford Brown and an overpriced egg is because they feed it marigold and paprika, which turns the yolk bright orange.' He then picked up a box of Waitrose own-brand organic eggs, priced at £2.95 for six, and advised viewers to choose those instead.
However, fans of Burford Brown eggs quickly defended the product, insisting that the taste and ethical production justify the higher cost. One commenter wrote: 'These eggs are ethically produced and the hens are well kept... Pay for quality and taste and that's what you will get.' Another added: 'These eggs TASTE far better than any other egg…fact!'
Clarence Court confirms on its website that its birds are fed a 'maize enriched diet' including paprika and marigold, along with wheat, sunflower, seashell, and soya. Burford Brown eggs are known for their heavy quality and thick dark shells, and have long been favoured by British shoppers over white eggs, despite there being no nutritional difference between the two.
In 2020, farmers urged consumers to switch to white eggs to reduce animal cruelty, as brown egg production often involves beak trimming with infrared lasers, which is said to be painful. Robert Gooch of The British Free Range Egg Producers Association stated that a shift to white eggs would improve animal welfare and give farmers confidence to rear hens without such treatment.
