Tag: Are eggs dairy

According to the USDA, eggs are categorized under the Protein Foods Group, a classification that also includes meat, poultry, seafood, and beans. This placement reflects their rich nutritional profile, which includes high-quality protein and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. Despite often being found in the dairy aisle at the grocery store, eggs are not a dairy product.

Despite being sold in the dairy aisle, eggs are not a dairy product and are neither meat nor produce. This common misconception stems from their frequent pairing with milk and butter in cooking, but their true classification is more nuanced.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health organizations, eggs are not classified as a dairy product. This means that when asking, 'are egg whites still dairy?', the definitive answer is no, because eggs themselves do not come from milk-producing mammals. The widespread misconception is largely due to their high-protein content and common storage in the grocery store's refrigerated dairy aisle.

Over 75% of adults worldwide have some degree of lactose intolerance, yet the confusion about whether eggs are a dairy product persists. Many consumers continue to question why are eggs grouped with dairy, an association primarily driven by modern retail practices rather than biological or nutritional classifications.