Harare, 8 October 2021. Today, leading eggs and chicken producer Irvine's joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Egg Day with a donation of 6000 eggs to Derbyshire Primary school in Waterfalls.
World egg day, a global event celebrated on the second Friday of October every year, is a day set aside to honour the unique contribution eggs make to supporting people worldwide.
People worldwide celebrate the power of the egg and all its nutritional and environmental benefits.
The annual event that honours the highly nutritious and brilliantly versatile egg, highlighting the vast range of unique benefits it brings to people of all ages, was established in Vienna, Austria, in 1996, when stakeholders decided to celebrate the power of the egg.
"In the past years, we have celebrated this special day with children's care centres, old people's homes and other needy members of the society, but this year, because of the pandemic, we saw it fit not go far from home. As the adage goes, charity begins at home. So to mark the 25th anniversary of World Egg Day, we are giving away more than 6000 eggs to children and staff members at Derbyshire Primary school. Eggs are an essential nutrient provider for children," said Anele Zunga, Irvine's Commercial Director.
"Each child will have at least half a dozen to go and enjoy with his or her family in line with this year's global theme that says "EAT YOUR EGG TODAY AND EVERY DAY." This theme emphasises the importance of eggs in our daily nutrition and encourages people to include an egg in their daily diet," he said.
Due to their broad range of nutrients, eggs are a healthy, nutritious, and affordable part of the diet for people at all stages of life, including growing teenagers, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, and infants, particularly those in the nutritionally vulnerable areas.
"As the leading fully integrated poultry producer in Zimbabwe, our mandate is to change lives in Zimbabwe and Africa at large by producing affordable protein. On a weekly basis, we produce over 4,8 million eggs. Days like World Egg Day remind us of our mission and vision, and we shall do whatever we can to make eggs available to the populace," Zunga said.
"The donation of 6000 eggs to Derbyshire Primary School is not only a sign that Irvine's is in support of nutritional value in particular to the children and their families. We are also delighted to have organisations remember the need to have a healthy child in class so as to make sure they concentrate on their education," said Henry Mutisi, Education Inspector Highglen District
"We are delighted that Irvine's has engaged the children in today's commemoration. We also appreciate that they are standing with the school and making sure we grow future leaders who will one day occupy and drive the nation forward," he said.
Last year, Irvine's commemorated this day with a donation of 3000 eggs and 100kgs of frozen chicken to Kudakwashe Children's home located to the South West of Chitungwiza, in the middle of Southlea Park in Harare.
Eggs are popular for their vast health benefits. They contain 13 essential nutrients, including choline, which supports foetal brain development; vitamin B12 and iron for child growth and overall brain function; and iodine, which aids the healthy functioning of the nervous system and maintains healthy skin.
This unique range of qualities means that eggs are ideal for all lifestyles and ages, from athletes to academics.
Along with their nutritional value, eggs are the most environmentally sustainable and affordable animal-source protein available, helping support families around the world as well as the planet itself.
This year will be World Egg Day's 25th anniversary. Consumers across the globe will celebrate the day by sharing their favourite egg dish using #WorldEggDay on social media.
END
About Irvine's
Irvine's is the leading poultry and poultry products producer, distributor and marketer in Zimbabwe and Sub-Saharan Africa at large. As a regional processor, marketer and distributor of poultry and poultry products, Irvine's Zimbabwe continuously strives to ensure that poultry and poultry products intended for human consumption are produced, stored, handled and distributed in a manner that eliminates or minimises food hazards that may infringe on the health of consumers. Its products include day-old chicks, eggs, broilers, layers, whole birds and other chicken products.