Egg enrichment with vitamin D: The Sunshine Eggs projects

Vitamin D deficiency is a significant public health issue in the UK with almost one five adults having poor vitamin status and most people failing to meet Reference Nutrient Intake of 10 µg/day. There an urgent need address population through development food-based strategies. Eggs can be enriched manipulating content hens’ feed. The Sunshine project was launched 2015 Innovate funding brought together Noble Foods Ltd, DSM Nutritional Products Ltd Newcastle University. research demonstrated that feeding flocks commercial hens up 75 µg 25-D/kg (25-hydroxyvitamin D3 via Rovimix® Hy-D®) feed for 6 weeks improved egg total by 40%. These results informed reformulation UK’s leading free-range brand ‘Happy Egg’ October 2018, offering D–enriched eggs consumer. This article outlines aims second UK-funded 2 project, which seeks maximise potential several objectives. relate understanding (1) how storage/cooking methods affect content; (2) whether consumption improves human intervention trial; (3) consumer attitudes towards eggs; (4) market identify opportunities eggs. drive fundamental impact across academic, nutrition sectors, helping offer viable foods consumers.