Do Eggs Belong In The Dairy Section? 6 Reasons Why

Eggs are one of the most important ingredients in a person’s kitchen.

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Many people consider them to be staples. When you buy eggs from the supermarket, you might be confused by their placement.

After all, they tend to be included in the diary section. Though they are grouped, eggs are not dairy products. This is due to how they are produced.

Most people use eggs frequently. Whether you are using them to make a cake, omelet, cookies, custard, or just fancy an egg by itself, eggs are cooking essentials.

Do Eggs Belong In The Dairy Section? 6 Reasons Why

Because of this, you likely buy eggs from the supermarket regularly. Yet, many people are confused by the placement of eggs in the supermarket.

They are often located alongside dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and butter.

This raises the question of whether eggs are dairy products. If not, why are they included in the diary section?

What are eggs if they are not dairy products? If these questions have been bothering you, we have all the answers!

What Are Dairy Products?

Foods categorized as dairy products are made from the milk of an animal. Specifically, mammals such as cows or goats produce milk.

Examples of dairy products include milk, cheese, ice cream, butter, yogurt, and eggnog. This food group also encapsulates a wide variety of different kinds of milks.

Dairy products form a large part of our diet. This food group is required as part of a healthy and balanced diet, which is due to its richness in calcium and protein.

Calcium is needed for several normal bodily functions, such as regulating the heartbeat. Meanwhile, protein is vital for building muscles and bones.

The downside of dairy products is that they can be quite high in fat. Plus, it can be hard to consume dairy products if you are a vegan and if you suffer from lactose intolerance or allergies.

In this case, you will have to use alternatives, such as soy milk, so that you still receive vital nutrients. Luckily, alternatives to dairy products are becoming increasingly widespread.

Are Eggs Dairy Products?

No, eggs are not dairy products. Though they are included alongside one another in supermarkets, eggs are not the same.

This is because they are not made from the milk of an animal. Instead, they are laid by animals.

They are not even produced by mammals. Eggs are made by birds, such as ducks and hens. By definition, eggs cannot be dairy products.

Why Are Eggs Included In The Dairy Section?

Though eggs are not dairy products, it is logical that they are kept together.

This is because there are numerous similarities between dairy products and eggs. Consequently, there are a few different reasons why they are stored together, such as:

They Both Must Be Cold

Dairy products must be kept in the fridge. This is because they will stay fresh when kept at the cool temperatures of the fridge.

If you have ever smelled or tasted spoiled milk, then you will be aware of how horrible it can be.

Thankfully, by storing dairy produce in the fridge, you should slow down this expiration process.

It is also recommended that eggs be stored in the fridge.

While some people adamantly believe that eggs are better kept in a cupboard or pantry, many other people prefer putting them in the fridge.

This is because eggs will stay fresh for longer whilst in the fridge. At the very least, eggs require consistent temperatures.

Thus, one of the reasons why eggs are stored next to dairy is because of practicality. Both foods must be kept in the fridge due to the cool temperatures.

This results in them being stored near one another, often next to other foods that need to be refrigerated (like meat).

They Used To Be Delivered Alongside Each Other

Nowadays, dairy products and eggs are usually bought from a supermarket. However, this has not always been the case.

These products used to be delivered to a person’s home via a milkman or milkperson. Though this career still exists today, few people rely on milkpeople.

Milkmen would not only deliver dairy produce, primarily milk, but also eggs. These objects can also be commonly bought together at farms.

As a consequence, many people associate eggs with dairy products, although they share very few similarities.

Interestingly, eggs could also be obtained from butcher shops. However, only some butchers provided eggs.

This was because they tended to specialize in larger cuts of meat, coming from big animals like cows.

Free butchers used to sell bird meat, meaning that they also had minimal access to eggs.

As a result, eggs have not developed as deep a connection with meat as they have with dairy products.

Both Have Fragile Containers

Eggs are famously fragile. Their protective shells can break under minimal pressure. Consequently, when you buy a pack of eggs, you must take steps to protect them.

Many dairy products are equally fragile. Lots of people have experienced the annoyance of a milk carton unexpectedly breaking.

This can result in milk leaking everywhere. A similar problem occurs with yogurt.

Part of the reason why eggs and dairy products are found by each other in the supermarket is that this reminds shoppers that they are fragile.

As a result, extra care must be taken to protect the contents of these containers. Few other containers are so breakable.

They Are Both Produced By Animals

As mentioned, dairy products are defined as foods containing the milk of an animal.

This milk can come from a wide array of lactating mammals, such as cows, camels, goats, and buffalo.

Though eggs are not made from animal milk, they are still produced by animals. Namely, they are laid by birds.

Though chicken eggs are the most common, you can also eat eggs produced by ducks, quails, turkeys, and ostriches.

Thus, while they are made by different types of animals, both eggs and dairy products originate from living creatures.

This Reduces The Risk Of Cross-Contamination

Cross-contamination is an important term in the world of cooking. It refers to the process of mixing harmful bacteria and spreading them from one place to another.

To avoid causing illness, you must take steps to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.

For instance, if you cut raw chicken on a chopping board you should not cut anything else on this same board.

This is because Campylobacter and Salmonella could transfer to the rest of the food. Instead, you should first sanitize the chopping board.

Raw meat is particularly dangerous when it comes to cross-contamination. As a result, eggs will be kept near raw meat, but never in the same section.

If eggs were in the same section, the bacteria from raw meat blood could spread to the eggs.

They Both Feature High Amounts Of Protein

Dairy products are renowned for their high levels of protein. Eggs are also rich in protein, containing approximately 6 grams of protein per egg.

An entire food group has been dedicated to protein.

This group contains eggs, dairy products, meats, fish, and other forms of seafood.

The reason why an entire group is dedicated to protein is that a person must consume decent amounts of it.

It is recommended that between 10% and 30% of a person’s diet should be made of protein.

Protein is particularly important if you wish to grow muscle.

This is why bodybuilders often consume copious amounts of protein, often in the form of eggs, dairy, meat, or protein powder.

Protein also gives a person energy, which is essential for everyone.

Ultimately, this shared richness of protein has resulted in eggs and dairy products being grouped.

Are Eggs Good For You?

Yes, eggs are highly nutritious. Aside from the aforementioned protein, eggs are also high in numerous nutrients.

For instance, they are a sensational source of Vitamin D. Without Vitamin D, the human body would struggle to absorb calcium.

Plus, this vitamin helps prevent diseases and is vital for healthy bones.

Eggs are also high in Vitamin B12. You need to have a good amount of this vitamin in your life, as it aids the immune system and the brain.

Alongside this, eggs are low in calories. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about putting on too much weight when eating eggs.

One of the main advantages of eating eggs is that you can cook them in a variety of ways, like frying, scrambling, boiling, or poaching!

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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!