NEW YORK — The CEO of the American Egg Board has stepped down earlier than planned, following the release of emails indicating she tried to stop the sale of a vegan mayonnaise at Whole Foods.
Joanne Ivy retired at the end of September. Before the release of the emails, the egg board said Ivy would retire Dec. 31.
Ivy and representatives of the egg board, which promotes the industry and is responsible for the "Incredible, Edible Egg" slogan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the board, confirmed Ivy's retirement but declined to comment on the reason.
The early departure comes as the USDA investigates the egg board regarding its actions related to Hampton Creek, a San Francisco startup that makes the eggless mayonnaise alternative Just Mayo. On Sept. 2, The Associated Press reported on emails in which Ivy told a consultant that she would "like to accept your offer to make that phone call to keep Just Mayo off Whole Foods shelves."
The request, made in 2013, was not successful, as Just Mayo is still sold at Whole Foods...
