Dive Brief:
- The American Egg Board, of "Incredible, Edible Egg" fame, is working to address potential problems for the egg industry caused by the media attention surrounding egg substitute manufacturer, Hampton Creek.
- Hampton Creek was recently in the news over its allegedly mislabeled Just Mayo egg-less mayonnaise, which the FDA said was not standard mayonnaise and could not be labeled as such. Just Mayo could also not bear an egg on its packaging, because the product does not contain eggs, the FDA said.
- According to emails from American Egg Board CEO Joanne Ivy, obtained by the Associated Press, a consultant contacted Whole Foods on behalf of the board to have Just Mayo removed from the store's shelves. Whole Foods did not.
Dive Insight:
The American Egg Board has cause for worry as egg shortages and skyrocketing prices threaten the industry. Plant-based egg alternatives, like Just Mayo, could be another threat if consumers begin to buy and enjoy the egg-less products and don't return to the egg-containing products once the shortages stop.
Some experts believe the board overstepped its authority by making the request that Whole Foods stop selling Hampton Creek products, though the USDA, which oversees the board, has not responded to the allegations. In the meantime, Hampton Creek CEO Josh Tetrick told the Associated Press the company "is considering asking for a congressional investigation into possible violations by the board and calling for greater oversight by the USDA."