Ask an Eggspert

Where Do I Find Essential Fatty Acids?
How do EFAs get into EggsPlus?
Are EggsPlus real eggs?
Why are Essential Fatty Acids important?
Is the package environmentally friendly?
What does Vitamin E do?

There are two families of EFAs - Omega-3 and Omega-6. These essential fats are needed by the body to make other fatty acids - called "daughters" or derivatives. Omega-6 EFA is found in vegetable oils including sunflower, corn and soybean. Until now, however, cold-water fish has been the best source of the Omega-3 EFA derivatives EPA and DHA. Omega-3 is so important to a healthy diet that many nutrition experts suggest two servings of fish per week to obtain the benefits of Omega-3 EPA and DHA.

But what if you don't like or can't afford to eat fish often? Pilgrim's Pride has developed an alternative.

EggsPlus: Essential Nutrients The Simple Way

EggsPlus, a revolutionary fresh egg, is a new way to obtain important nutrients in a relatively low-fat, economical and tasty food. EggsPlus look, cook and taste just like ordinary eggs. But EggsPlus adds EFAs and natural antioxidants, like vitamin E, to our diet.

Each EggsPlus egg contains 350 mg of Omega-3, 600 mg of Omega-6 and 25% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin E (making it an excellent source).

The American Heart Association now says that, when eaten in moderation, eggs are okay for most people. And, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines point out that "...a certain type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (Omega-3) is under study because of a possible association with decreased risk of heart disease in certain people..."

Four EggsPlus eggs per week supply as much Omega-3 DHA as two servings of lean cold-water fish. Compare the cost of two EggsPlus eggs to 3 oz. of red snapper, and the benefits of trying EggsPlus are even clearer.

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EggsPlus hens consume a natural grain-based feed enriched with flaxseed and other grains naturally high in EFAs. EggsPlus are 100% real eggs.

And The Experts Say...

In a recent national survey, 94% of dietitians surveyed agree that Omega-3, Omega-6 (the two forms of EFAs) and vitamin E are best obtained through natural food sources - not supplements. Nutritional supplements may be incomplete or provide only fat calories. More than 60% of registered dietitians agree that EggsPlus would be a good choice to increase essential fats and natural antioxidants in our diet.

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Yes. Hens are fed a natural grain diet rich in flaxseed and other essential nutrients, thereby producing a naturally enriched egg. EggsPlus are 100% real eggs that taste, look and cook like ordinary eggs.

"The consumer will not detect a difference in taste or appearance," says Pilgrim's Pride founder and chairman Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim. "But they will have the assurance that they are adding good fats (EFAs) such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 to their diet by natural means."

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In the past decade, FAT has taken a majority of the blame for America's dietary woes. What many people don't realize, however, is that we need certain fats for healthy bodies. Polyunsaturated fats - the "good" fats - supply energy, promote the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K and contain Essential Fatty Acids. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are those fatty acids that are the building blocks for the production of chemical messengers (hormone-like substances) that control several important body processes. EFAs are important for normal:

• cell growth
• blood clotting
• cholesterol metabolism
• flexibility of arteries
• fat metabolism, and
• brain and eye development

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Yes. We present our highest quality eggs in a hygienic, glass clear pack because we don't have anything to hide. -- We have also made sure that this new pack is an excellent solution for the environment:

• Completely Clear Quality you can see -- without having to open the pack. It's made of clean, clear, pure Polystyrene. This material is neutral to water, will deteriorate (degrade) in sunlight and does not omit toxic fumes when incinerated.
• Through it's unique design no valuable raw materials are wasted.
• The material is produced free of CFC and is completely recyclable.
• By using this pack, waste (lowest weight and volume) is dramatically reduced as well as air or water pollution.

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Antioxidants are those compounds that act as scavengers of free radicals, neutralizing them before they can cause oxidative damage and eventually, disease. Antioxidants are either produced by the body or obtained from our diet. Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that has been linked to heart disease prevention, is found in foods that contain polyunsaturated fat: vegetable oils, sunflower seeds, margarine, nuts and wheat germ. In smaller quantities, vitamin E is found in green vegetables and grain products.

As we choose diets lower in fat, the amount of vitamin E we get from foods declines.

U.S. dietary guidelines have established a daily value for vitamin E of 30 IU. This level is enough to meet basic nutritional requirements and prevent outright deficiencies. However, it does not take into account certain factors that may increase an individual's need for more vitamin E, such as diet, lifestyle, disease, exposure to pollutants, physical stress and other sources of excess free radicals.

While vitamin E supplements are widely used to augment natural intake, recent human studies indicate that vitamin E obtained from natural food sources has almost twice the effectiveness of vitamin E supplements.

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