American Egg Board CEO Steps Down Amid Vegan Mayo Controversy

The CEO of the American Egg Board, Joanne Ivy, has quit her place. Her departure comes nearly two months after The Guardian printed emails that showed Egg Board officers looking to stop complete foods from selling the eggless mayonnaise spread simply Mayo. Ivy unexpectedly stepped down lately, even though she was supposed to stay CEO of the American Egg Board unless the end of the 12 months.

Allegations have been previously raised by means of The Guardian that officials affiliated with the Egg Board and their member firms sent letters to complete foods making an attempt to influence them not to inventory just Mayo.

rapidly after Ivy announced her past-than-expected retirement on Friday, The Guardian revealed it had acquired emails indicating American Egg Board officials broke the legislation when lobbying towards simply Mayo manufacturer Hampton Creek. The U.S. department of Agriculture has begun an investigation into the Egg Board, The Guardian stories.

Hampton Creek has been at the heart of a maelstrom involving its just Mayo vegan unfold. Multinational firm Unilever, which owns the Hellmann’s brand of mayonnaise, sued Hampton Creek final 12 months over the “just Mayo” appellation, arguing that any food calling itself “mayo” or “mayonnaise” has to incorporate eggs.

in the meantime, some other govt company, the food and Drug Administration, up to now dominated just Mayo is misleading shoppers due to its identify. The Guardian leaked a collection of emails from avid gamers in the egg-based totally mayonnaise industry, together with the American Egg Board, expressing concern and concern about the affect of Hampton Creek’s merchandise on the egg trade.

Hampton Creek CEO Josh Tetrick informed fast company that he “in finding[s] it compelling that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsac, formerly the governor of Iowa, the number one egg producing state, is thoughtful enough to launch a formal investigation.” He additionally credited conservative senator Mike Lee (R-UT) with his position within the course of.

quick firm has reached out to the American Egg Board for remark.