What does the colour of your egg yolk really mean? The truth behind middle-class favourite Burford Browns’ golden yolk might come as a surprise… but it’s worse news if you purchase the paler yellow variety

Not so long ago, there was a lot of chatter that a certain posh egg brand was implementing paprika and marigold into its chickens’ diets to create that gorgeous, deep orange colour in the yolks of their eggs.

The brand was Clarence Court’s Burford Browns, of course, with the instantly recognisable middle-class favourite so desirable that they even made their way to the King and Queen’s breakfast table.

Following the discovery, some shoppers felt conflicted: they thought their Burford Browns were richer in colour because a. they were paying a premium price and so b. the chickens must be happier and healthier.

And while the above may still ring true, some complained that adding paprika to increase pigment is bordering on deceptive.

But though it’s a no-brainer that a richer yolk looks better, what does it actually indicate? And does this mean paler, more yellow varieties are a no-no?

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Henry O’Connor, founder of Better Eggs, revealed that the yolk colour can offer clues about the hen’s nutrition and welfare.

And it’s bad news if you crack an egg to find a pale yellow yolk because, according to the expert, it points to a grain-heavy diet, which is typically seen in lower-welfare or more confined systems where hens have less access to varied outdoor feed sources.

A more classic yellow yolk, however, is usually the middle ground and often reflects a balanced diet.

The most desirable by far, though, is the golden yolk. ‘A golden yolk usually means the hen’s enjoyed a rich, varied diet full of natural pigments,’ Henry says, adding, ‘It’s a good indicator of welfare and often points to a better-tasting egg too.’

But the expert warned that when yolks appear very deep orange, it is not always as simple as ‘darker means better’.

‘Many large-scale producers add synthetic colourings to chicken feed to make yolks look richer than they really are,’ Henry said. ‘So that glowing orange might not come from nature at all – it could just be clever colouring designed to fool the eye.’

That’s why he recommends checking the label, rather than judging by colour alone.

‘Eggs from free-range or pasture-raised hens tend to have naturally vibrant yolks thanks to their outdoor diet,’ he added. 

‘Those from confined hens on grain-heavy feed often look paler – but at least they’re honest about it.’

Holly Caske (ANutr), Registered Associate Nutritionist and gut health expert at Biomel, added: ‘There can be modest differences in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and E when hens are genuinely pasture-raised or fed omega-3-enriched diets, but a deep orange yolk doesn’t necessarily mean the egg is more nutritious. 

‘Feed colour can also be enhanced with natural or approved feed pigments, so yolk colour alone isn’t a reliable indicator of nutritional quality.’

It comes after one influencer criticised Burford Browns eggs – six of which cost around £3.20 but can go up to as much as £4.20 – as not worth paying more for, as he believes he has revealed the secret behind their much-loved dark yolks.

Sunna Van Kampen, known as @tonichealth on TikTok, posted a video onto his social media pages saying people should not pay premium prices for the variant, from Clarence Court.

He said their ‘overpriced’ eggs – which are sold in numerous shops including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose – had dark orange yolks because the chickens were fed marigold and paprika.

Some believe a darker yolk makes eggs healthier for human consumption.

But fans of the produce hit back at his claims, saying that Burford Brown eggs are worth the higher price because they are tastier.

Mr Kampen said: ‘The reason why your yolks are so dark and orange when you pay money for a Burford Brown and an overpriced egg is that they feed it marigold and paprika, which turns the yolk bright orange.

‘That’s how they can guarantee that, when you have a chicken that’s in pastures and eat natural diets, it tends to be a darker yolk anyway.

‘But these guys have commercialised that opportunity with paprika, which is why they are charging you £4.20 for large eggs. That’s wild!’

He then picked up a green box of Waitrose-own-brand organic eggs and said: ‘You can just come here and get organic eggs, which have organic feed, and it’s only £2.95 for six.

Clarence Court previously told the Daily Mail: ‘In an age of intensive farming, our hens are given space to roam and the time to lay at their own natural, unhurried pace.’

When it comes to their somewhat-controversial diet, Clarence Court makes no secret of the ingredients fed to the chickens.

‘The golden yolk is a result of the traditional breed and their feed,’ the spokesperson says.

‘Our Burford Browns are free to roam over acres where, as well as enjoying a maize-enriched diet formulated to include wheat, sunflower, seashell, soya, paprika and marigold, they often graze on the grass and wildflowers, too.’