n-3 fatty acid enriched table eggs: a survey of consumer acceptability

Table eggs enriched with n-3 fatty acids may provide an alternative to fish as a source of these proposed healthful fatty acids. Successful marketing of this product may be influenced, however, by consumer perceptions of the egg as an unhealthful food. Therefore, the objectives of the current study were to assess consumer perceptions of table egg health quality and to determine the potential consumer acceptability of an n-3 fatty acid-enriched table egg. A survey was conducted in five major Texas cities; over 500 consumers completed the survey. Data were analyzed using the chi-square procedure. The majority of consumers surveyed considered eggs healthful and reported purchasing eggs at least once monthly and consuming an average of three whole eggs per week, as compared with an average reported fish consumption of only one serving per week. Sixty-five percent of the consumers reported willingness to purchase an n-3 fatty acid-enriched table egg and of these, 71% were willing to pay an additional $.50 per dozen. These data indicate that n-3 fatty acid-enriched table eggs represent a viable means of incorporating n-3 fatty acids into the diet of health-conscious consumers.