American Egg Board funded $2 million in nutrition research in 2010

During 2010, the American Egg Board's Egg Nutrition Center funded a record $2 million for nutrition research and awarded grants to faculty at several universities, according to the board's annual report.
Roughly 13% of the AEB's expenditures came from nutrition campaigns, while 12% went to agriculture education and 12% went to state support and industry programs (6% each). Recipients of the grants included the University of Connecticut, the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, San Diego State University, Austin University School of Medicine and the Baylor College of Medicine. Advertising took up the largest percentage of expenditures (38%), market communications claimed 7% and food service and egg product marketing each accounted for 4% of expenditures.
The board also focused on egg safety, working with the United Egg Producers to develop an Egg Safety Crisis Plan. The AEB reallocated $1 million from existing programs for a campaign to regain consumer confidence following the egg recall in August 2010. The AEB then created the Social Media Crisis Response Plan, and it was also intended to establish a parallel Crisis Protection Plan. Efforts included advertisements in USA Today, Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, as well as statements on egg safety through various media outlets. The AEB said that these efforts “played a key role in minimizing erosion of consumer demand.”
Total revenue for the AEB amounted to $21.23 million, while total expenditures reached $24.65 million — representing a deficit of $3.4 million for the year. As of the end of 2010, the AEB had total assets of $12.47 million with an accumulated excess of revenue over operating expenses of $10.3 million. The deficit between revenue and expenditure was funded from accumulated funds.

People's Pharmacy promotes egg consumption

Joe and Terry Graedon, hosts and authors of the nationally syndicated radio show and newspaper column The People's Pharmacy said recently that research has shown eating eggs in moderation is not bad for your health or serum cholesterol.
Citing recent studies they said, “when investigators looked at the data they found that eating up to one egg daily had little effect on stoke or heart disease risk.” They added, “there is an experiment showing that egg consumption is linked to higher levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol and markers or improved regular health.”
Publications and presentations by Dr. Don McNamara of the Egg Nutrition Center over the past decade have defused opposition to egg consumption and have confirmed the nutritional benefits of eggs.

Cracking cholesterol confusion during American Heart Month

The Egg Nutrition Center of the American Egg Board has partnered with registered dietician Keith Ayoob to dispel myths surrounding eggs and cholesterol during February’s American Heart Month. Ayoob is associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of the nutrition clinic at the Rose F. Kennedy Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center.
"It's important that we clear up all the confusion that surrounds what people should or shouldn't eat to reduce their risk of heart disease," said Ayoob. Egg consumption does not significantly raise the ratio of “bad” LDL-cholesterol to "good" HDL-cholesterol, he said. A high LDL-to-HDL ratio can be an indicator of heart disease.
"Egg consumption does not significantly impact the LDL:HDL ratio, so enjoying an egg or two a day can fall within current cholesterol guidelines, particularly if you eat lower-cholesterol, nutrient-rich foods throughout the rest of the day, like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy," Ayoob said.