Comedian Lee Kyung-sil directly addressed the egg controversy.
On the 19th Lee Kyung-sil posted on her social media account "From the consumer's perspective, only what they look at when choosing food mattered; in other words, I sincerely apologize for failing to consider consumers' feelings in my pride about producing high-quality eggs," she said.
Lee Kyung-sil said "This controversy began because a carton of eggs with shell code number 4 was priced at 15,000 won, higher than eggs with codes 1 and 2, but although 30 eggs of number 4 at 15,000 won is indeed expensive in general, Uaran's quality is far superior to any eggs sold on the market, and we have worked, researched and also consistently strived to provide value worthy of the price and maintain steady quality."
She continued, "Egg quality grade is finally determined as +1, 1, 2, 3. The shell codes 1, 2, 3, 4 printed on the shell denote the rearing environment and are unrelated to the egg's quality grade. The reason Uaran keeps a high price is the difference in feed and rearing methods, not the rearing environment. High-priced ingredients such as "turmeric, cordyceps" are being fed, and a lot of expense is invested to maintain egg quality and freshness through farm hygiene management and disease control," adding, "You cannot judge quality by looking only at shell code number 4. Uaran's message to consumers is very clear. From laying to delivery, the most important thing for the quality at the moment the consumer receives and cracks the egg is quality (freshness), not the shell code. The reason we emphasize quality is that maintaining such a high level of quality is extremely difficult."
On the 16th, Uaran, which Lee Kyung-sil promoted for purchase on her social media, came under heavy criticism for setting a higher price despite having shell code number 4 than for shell codes 1 and 2. Shell code number 4 indicates eggs laid by hens raised in cages smaller than a sheet of A4 paper, and because they are produced in a high-stress environment they have been a continual animal welfare concern. Generally, the larger the shell code number, the cheaper the price tends to be. However, the eggs Lee Kyung-sil sold with shell code number 4 are 15,000 won for 30 eggs. That sale price is higher than animal welfare-certified fertilized eggs using shell codes 1 and 2.
Below is Lee Kyung-sil's full statement
Hello, this is Lee Kyung-sil
From childhood, the feeling I had about fried eggs has remained tender even as I grew older, and having readily joined the cause of prioritizing quality eggs, several years have already passed
Believing that eggs above all should be fresh and lively, I regarded Uaran as a product that puts quality first
This controversy began because a carton of eggs with shell code number 4 was priced at 15,000 won, higher than eggs with codes 1 and 2, but although 30 eggs of number 4 at 15,000 won is indeed expensive in general, Uaran's quality is far superior to any eggs sold on the market, and we have worked, researched and also consistently strived to provide value worthy of the price and maintain steady quality.
However, from the consumer's perspective, only what they look at when choosing food mattered; in other words, I sincerely apologize for failing to consider consumers' feelings in my pride about producing high-quality eggs.
I am writing briefly to tell you why I am sincere about these Uaran eggs and what kind of feed makes Uaran
Uaran's selling price is based on a quality unit called HU (Haugh unit), not shell code. Uaran has eggs of such high quality that it could compete with any shell code. Uaran's HU is measured weekly, and as of today it is 105.9 HU, which is 47% fresher than the 72 HU standard for first-grade eggs sold on the market, and I assert that the quality is top-notch.
Also, egg quality grade is finally determined as +1, 1, 2, 3. The shell codes 1, 2, 3, 4 printed on the shell denote the rearing environment and are unrelated to the egg's quality grade. The reason Uaran keeps a high price is the difference in feed and rearing methods, not the rearing environment. High-priced ingredients such as "turmeric, cordyceps" are being fed, and a lot of expense is invested to maintain egg quality and freshness through farm hygiene management and disease control.
You cannot judge quality by looking only at shell code number 4. Uaran's message to consumers is very clear. From laying to delivery, the most important thing for the quality at the moment the consumer receives and cracks the egg is quality (freshness), not the shell code. The reason we emphasize quality is that maintaining such a high level of quality is extremely difficult.
Of course, the hens' rearing environment is most important, but I also think quality is equally important. Compared with farms with good environments using codes 1 and 2, 90% of laying farms are code 4 farms, so code 4 farms do not match the environment of code 1 and 2 farms, but to maintain the best quality and freshness you need good feed and management.
Consumers' standard is that the rearing environment (shell code) is the standard of quality, while Uaran's standard is that feed, freshness and management are the standard of quality. I think this is not a matter of who is right but a problem that occurred because the standards for judging the rearing environment and eggs differ.
Through this incident I realized consumers mostly thought of good eggs and bad eggs based on shell code (rearing environment), and there are times when a number 1 egg disappointed you, and times when a number 4 egg was better than expected. I hope this controversy has properly explained to consumers that it is not that only 1 and 2 eggs are good and 4 is automatically low quality, but that even in a code 4 rearing environment the quality can vary greatly.
But these days, as Uaran is eaten not only by my family but also by relatives and acquaintances, I will keep quality as I first intended. Thank you for reading this long message
Egg freshness multi-test (yolk index, albumen height, Haugh unit) inspection results (as of the 18th)<
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