Egg yolks can range in color from pale yellow to deep orange. The largest misconception is that the color indicates nutritional value or quality. It does not. The color indicates the diet of the hen. A light yellow yolk means the hen ate a wheat based diet. Yolks that are a deeper orange color come from a hen whose diet was high in carotenoids, which is the red pigment found in plants. Dark yolks are common in free-range eggs, especially during the summer months.
So why have a color chart if there isn’t a difference in nutrition? It comes down to personal preference. Many consumers want bright colored eggs. Producers use the chart to gauge how their nutrition is affecting the color.
Donated by Douglas C. McFarland, c. 1956-1965