Eggs are a popular food all year long, and especially popular during this time of year for springtime celebrations, such as Easter and Passover.
However, harmful salmonella bacteria can be found on both the outside and inside of eggs that can cause food poisoning – otherwise known as foodborne illness. Protect yourself and your family by following these food safety tips to prevent food poisoning.
Wash your hands, utensils, dishes and work surfaces with soap and hot water after contact with raw eggs and raw egg-containing foods. You should never let raw eggs or the utensils that touched them come into contact with foods that won’t be cooked, such as raw fruits and vegetables.
Cook the eggs thoroughly until both the yolk and white are firm. Casseroles and other dishes containing eggs should be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit; use a food thermometer to be sure.
Eggs should be eaten right after cooking. Don’t keep them warm or at room temperature for more than two hours. For recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs, including Caesar salad dressing and homemade ice cream, consider using pasteurized shell eggs or pasteurized egg products.
Buy eggs only if sold from a refrigerator or refrigerated case to prevent any salmonella bacteria in or on the eggs from growing to higher numbers. Keep eggs refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below until they’re needed. Refrigerate unused eggs or leftovers that contain eggs promptly. For school or work, pack cooked eggs with a small frozen gel pack or a frozen juice box.
Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Ask if they use pasteurized eggs before ordering anything that might result in consumption of raw or undercooked eggs, such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing.
If you think that you or a family member has a foodborne illness, contact your health care provider immediately. You can report a suspected foodborne illness to the FDA by contacting
MedWatch at 1-800-FDA-1088 or file an online report through http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Learn more at:
https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/what-you-need-know-about-egg-safety.