Why are Duck Eggs Not Sold in Stores?

There is plenty of controversial information on duck eggs that keep most vendors away. For instance, rumored unpleasant duck egg’s taste and likely contamination to salmonella is a significant concern. These contentious drawbacks date back to the Second World War when health experts linked a salmonella epidemic to duck eggs.

Given that ducks spend most of the time scavenging in the muck; it is pretty unlikely to change consumers’ mindsets anytime soon. Somewhat, this translates to why duck eggs are a rare commodity in the local stores.

In fact, some countries like the UK have imposed strict laws on how to raise ducks for meat and egg production because of their association with the disease.

Reasons Supermarkets Don’t Sell Duck Eggs

Below are other imperative reasons why most supermarkets fail to stock duck eggs.

– Duck Eggs Taste Different

Many people have a massive aversion to duck eggs’ unfamiliar taste. As a matter of fact, ducks produce a different type of lipid in their eggs, changing the texture and flavor. Compared to chicken eggs, they have a more distinctive taste that some people find offensive.

Moreover, some individuals claim that the eggs are gamey and cause stomach upsets when eaten in large quantities. For these reasons, most egg lovers would instead use them for baking purposes and never on their own.

– Duck Eggs are More Expensive

Due to several reasons, duck eggs cost slightly more in the market. For one, the duck industry is relatively small in comparison to chicken farming. This often makes it difficult for companies to acquire enough supply at a competitive price basis.

Remember that most vendors selling ducks go through brokers who sell them in bulk from huge farms. As a result, the company has to put this markup on their product to cover expenses.

Another contributing factor is the small number of storage facilities available for these eggs. Most distributors only buy a small number of cases, which makes it quite unrealistic to stock up. Finally, specific state laws not in line with USDA rules regulate the duck egg industry.

For instance, most states require producers only to use clean water for hatching purposes. This implies that farmers should not allow ducks to swim or bathe in stagnant waters that are likely to catch and spread potential diseases.

Undeniably, this is in sharp contrast to the chicken industry, where animal keepers allow their hens to bathe in natural bodies of water and then later sell them. In the long run, factory farms have difficulty cleaning up after their ducks and use chlorine pools instead, costing more on maintenance.

– Duck Eggs Can’t Be Produced on Industrial Scale

Several reasons attribute why it is nearly impossible for farmers to produce duck eggs on a massive scale. One of them is the fact that ducks lay eggs in a very irregular manner. Unlike chickens, which lay eggs almost daily, it may take days or even weeks before ducks produce another.

While this may work for small poultry farmers, the demand in the market often outweighs the supply. This further makes eggs costlier and causes troubles in terms of storage and distribution.

– Duck Eggs are not as Popular as Chickens

In light of the health risks associated with eating duck eggs, many people have a negative attitude towards them. In fact, in some countries, you can be prosecuted for providing duck eggs to the public.

It is no surprise that duck egg sellers face plenty of criticism from potential customers. In short, there is always that lowly perception that duck eggs are inferior compared to chicken eggs.

Are Duck Eggs More Prone to Salmonella?

Contrary to the belief that duck eggs contain salmonella, studies reveal that they are equally safe as chicken eggs. Despite this knowledge, the public still has the negative judgment that they pose a risk to their health and prefer choosing chicken products. This does not help that some duck eggs only get contaminated due to improper storage and handling.

Unknown to most people, duck eggs require proper storage facilities to stay longer. After all, they have excess oil glands on the shell, making it difficult for oxygen to pass through. Thus, if not properly maintained, the shells become porous and cause bacteria to penetrate. This development is particularly evident if you store eggs for more than a month.

All in all, proper storage facilities for duck eggs should contain the right amount of humidity and temperature at all times. This way, their eggs will not crack open as a result of fluctuations in these conditions.  In addition to that, the rooms have to be very clean from any potential contaminants that might lead to salmonella infections.

Recent studies also show that eggs sold in stores sometimes end up spoiling due to improper packing. Therefore, if you plan on buying any eggs for commercial reasons, it’s best to do some research first on the location of your supplier and how they maintain their facilities.

However, even with proper handling, duck eggs are still more prone to contamination since they get laid in an unclean environment. Therefore, confirm the hygiene conditions of your supplier before running into losses.

Where to Buy Duck Eggs?

Rarely would you find chicken and duck eggs sold together due to the negative stigma. Nevertheless, you can find duck eggs in some food stores that cater to niche communities like farmers. Also, some stores do sell them alongside goose eggs.

That is only possible if the duck hens get raised in controlled environments and fed healthy food that does not question their quality. You can also buy them from farm-to-door suppliers who specialize in the sale of these kinds of products.

Conclusion

Ducks irregularly lay eggs, making it challenging to maintain a steady supply for the market. Still, the negligible amount of duck eggs in the market faces a rebuff because of contamination rumors. What’s more, there is also the freshness concern because duck eggs require specific storage conditions.

If you plan on venturing on duck eggs business venture, kindly prepare yourself for loads of scrutiny along the way. Hopefully, this article will guide you on where to buy and sell duck eggs with minimal fault-finding.