Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

The 21st 'World Egg Day' is being celebrated on Friday (13 October 2023) to raise awareness about the quality of eggs. This year's theme of the day is 'Nutrition in eggs, energy in eggs, cure from diseases'World Egg Day is celebrated around the world on the second Friday of October every year.

There is no such event on the occasion of the day. The Animal Husbandry Department has organized a small scale discussion meeting.

Eggs are called complete food. Only a few foods in the world are labeled as superfoods - eggs being one of them. Currently, the annual availability of eggs per capita in Bangladesh is 135, last year this number was 136. Since the IEC Vienna Conference held in 1996, a positive campaign has been going on worldwide for 27 years. Through which the message of the necessity of eggs to meet the nutritional needs of the people of the world is being conveyed to everyone - The International Egg Commission (IEC) based in the UK was established in 1964 to establish eggs as a high-quality and readily available non-vegetarian food in the world. Currently the membership of this organization is 80.The organization organized the first 'World Egg Day' in 1996 in Vienna, Austria, with the aim of meeting the demand for animal meat, building a healthy and talented nation and above all raising public awareness about the quality of eggs, which has since been celebrated every year on the second Friday of OctoberEggs are very useful. Everyone in the family used to eat one egg every day. A dozen eggs are used up in two days in a family of six. If the price does not come down, it is not possible to eat eggs every day,” my regular readers sounded disappointed

Egg is an important food to meet the nutritional needs of the middle and lower classes in the country. As a result, when the egg market rises, the nutrition of many people like Morsheda Begum is strained.

Due to the increase in the price of eggs in the last few days, people with lower income are in more trouble than this family.

Nutritionists say that if someone eats eggs every day instead of fish and meat, then his daily protein needs will be met. Because eggs contain about 6 grams of protein.

“Since lower class people do not get fish and meat every day, their protein needs can be met with eggs. Even they may not be able to eat it every day as the price has gone up lately. It can also lead to nutritional deficiencies.”

> The hustle and bustle of the egg market

The egg market has been going up for quite some time. Sellers say they have to buy from farmers at high prices. And the farmers claim that the cost of production has increased due to the increase in the price of chicken feed. And the Department of Livestock or the Ministry said,
"Despite the increase in people's demand and purchasing power, it is not possible to provide accordingly. As our country is small, more production is possible here through the use of advanced technology.
“The Department of Livestock or the Ministry has not had any discussion with the small farmers, who produce 78 percent of the country's eggs. Problems are not identified and solved. That's why the farm is shrinking from the problem.Chittagong rickshaw driver Ripon Mia is used to eggs as an alternative to fish and meat, but now it is also strained.

He said, "Earlier the price of an egg was 6-7 rupees. If there is nothing in the house, I have eaten an egg. Now the price of one egg is 46 rupees. How to wrap eggs? The price of everything is going up.”

The government has decided to import to curb the unusual price of eggs in the country's market. Besides, the price of each piece of egg is fixed at 12 rupees. But despite all this, the price is not decreasing. On Wednesday (October 11) in the capital's caravan market, eggs are being sold at Tk 50 each.

On September 14, the price of each piece of egg was fixed at Tk 12. But that price remains only on paper. Buyers have to pay Tk 150 to buy dozen of eggs in the market. In particular, it goes from 155 taka to 165 taka.

About the unusual price of eggs, a buyer said, I bought one egg for 55 taka. Once the price of a thing increases, it does not decrease again. On Wednesday (October 11), it was seen on the ground in Chittagong Pahartali raw market, red eggs are being sold at the price of Tk 44 per half. Apart from this, white egg price is 42 taka and duck egg price is 60 taka.

That is, the government fixed price of an egg is 12 rupees. A consumer says that eggs are good if they are 8 taka pieces.

Regarding the price of eggs in the market, a seller of Karwan Bazar in the capital said that for the last two days, he has been selling red eggs at the rate of 150 rupees per dozen. Earlier, the price per dozen was Rs. 145. Moreover, the price of white eggs has also increased. Last week white eggs were selling at Tk 140 per dozen, now they are selling at Tk 145.

Another seller said that the reason for the high price of eggs is,
The price of eggs increased due to rain. Moreover, there is not much supply from Aarat. Earlier, 70 to 80 thousand eggs came in one car. Now 30 to 40 thousand eggs come in the same car. Now we cannot supply the number of buyers as per the demand. Egg prices are lower every year before winter, but this year that trend isn't showing.

The government allowed the import of 15 crore eggs in three phases after the eggs failed to reach the consumer at the fixed price earlier.

According to the information of the Department of Livestock, the annual demand of eggs in the country is 1 thousand 806 crore 48 lakh pieces. On the contrary, in the fiscal year 2022-23, the domestic production of 2 thousand 337 crore 63 lakh pieces of eggs.

“Eggs are always cheaper in India than we are. But now because their egg price is higher than ours, eggs are leaving here illegally. If the price of poultry products in the world market does not normalize, there is no possibility of reducing the price of eggs.”

Why are eggs essential food?

Eggs play a major role in meeting protein requirements. 6 grams of protein are found in egg yolk and white.

“Egg whites are mostly protein. Again, the white part and the yolk contain many beneficial vitamins. Contains vitamins A, D, E, K, vitamin B complex.

"Also some micronutrients like choline, selenium, zinc, iron are present in eggs. Which are very important for staying healthy.”

The micronutrient choline in eggs keeps the heart healthy, he said, “It keeps the brain functioning properly. Keeps our body cells healthy. Choline plays a huge role in our reproductive health. Also works to prevent breast cancer.

"The ingredients in the egg yolk help us maintain our eyesight."

Eggs help in childhood growth, he said, "Eggs help to compensate for the damage that occurs in our body later. Our hair, nails, help in the normal functioning of various organs in the body such as liver, kidneyAnd protein plays a big role in making antibodies in our immune system. In the Covid situation, people are eating more eggs to boost immunity. It helps in boosting immunity.

“Most Covid patients are deficient in vitamin D. The role of eggs in fulfilling that demand is manySo if someone is suffering from a complex disease, they can eat eggs with the doctor's advice. There is no harm in eating one egg a day for normal people who have high blood pressure, diabetes, and are overweight.

> Side effects of eating only egg whites

"Many studies have shown that eggs have good cholesterol. It benefits the body and removes bad cholesterol. That is why one should eat one egg every day."

“Eggs are a first class protein. This first class protein is the best to fulfill the nutritional needs of our body. Because the whole protein is used by the body.

“Eggs help us grow. Very beneficial for skin and hair. Eggs contain calcium, vitamins A, E, D, B complex. As a result, eggs fulfill many nutritional needs. It is a protein food that can be eaten without using oil; Which is not possible in the case of fish and meat.

“Eggs can be eaten as a daily breakfast to meet protein requirements. Anyone from the age of one year can eat one egg per day; Except for kidney patients. Because the daily protein of kidney patients depends on many things.

"Also, eggs are very important for everyone. Cholesterol in eggs keeps the heart healthy.”

Author, columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society