Importance of designer eggs for the Nigerian population

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have led to recommendations that people should consume at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetable daily for healthy living but majority of Nigerians falls well short of meeting these guidelines. Hence, there is a need to make up for this shortage. Through studies, it has been established that in addition to being a natural functional food, the egg's nutrient content can be altered by designing the feed given to the chickens thus resulting in the production of designer eggs. A crucial feature of these designer eggs is the synergistic combination of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids with major antioxidants, Vitamin E and lutein, as an important approach to the improvement of the human diet. These eggs will not be able to replace vegetable and fruits as a major source of natural antioxidants and fish products but can substantially improve the diet, especially in a country like Nigeria, significantly contributing to the recommended daily intake of essential nutrients. Thus, this study reviews the importance of designer eggs in the Nigerian context.