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Egg fat – a case for concern?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2009

R.C. Noble
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Microbiology, West of Scotland College of Agriculture, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW, UK
M. Cocchi
Affiliation:
Centro Ricerche sulla Nutrizione, Facolta di Medicine e Chirurgia, Universita di Bologna, Italy
E. Turchetto
Affiliation:
Centro Ricerche sulla Nutrizione, Facolta di Medicine e Chirurgia, Universita di Bologna, Italy
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Abstract

Egg yolk is an obvious source of fat in our daily diet. The trend towards a reduction in fat consumption and concern over the quality of any fat that is consumed have caused a significant erosion of the previously accepted dietary image of the egg. In spite of the extensive and continuing controversy over the quality of dietary fat and the incidence of coronary heart disease, it is now widely recommended that the consumption of animal fats does not predispose to health. Parameters describing what is a healthy dietary fat have been established. Egg fat is examined with regard to these parameters and the justification for its present poor image is scrutinized. So firmly entrenched are the present views on animal fat consumption, that to rehabilitate the egg with the consumer will require a change of approach, away from the complacency of the past to a more positive approach based on attempts to change lipid parameters to align with present consumer perceptions and requirements.

Type
Reviews
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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