Salmonella in eggs...what you don't know!

Free Range or Bust!

Did you know that 1 in 6 Americans contract a food borne illness..that's.over 48 million people every year!

According to the CDC, there are 31 known food borne pathogens the most common deaths are from Salmonella, Toxoplasma, Listeria, and the norovirus…that's over 1,300 a year.  

Salmonella and eggs...what else is new?

No big surprise, we've heard this before... Salmonella is found on the outside and inside of eggs. To avoid exposure from the eggs, do not eat them or raw or cook eggs lightly. Hollandaise sauce, caeser salad dressing, cold souffles, chiffon  mousses, mayonnaise and contain raw eggs. Experts claim that less than 1% of the eggs tested contain Salmonella but it's possible it could be higher.

Buy eggs from a farmers market and ask questions and visit the farm (it's fun) so you can see how they treat the animals. If you don't have access to a farmers market, look for the Certified Humane label, Free Farmed, Certified Organic, cage-free, or free-range on the egg carton. Don't be fooled by the UEP Certified logo. 

Click here for a list of all egg farmers certified Humane.

Fresh eggs sinks and stale eggs float

 If you are wondering how salmonella is passed to the egg…it is stated in multiple findings that chickens carry the bacteria in their own bodies, and pass Salmonella to the yolk and white while the egg is forming in the ovaries. Chickens can be carriers for Salmonella without being sick themselves. Hens locked in cages are not safe and are more likely to contract diseases.

You can check if your egg is fresh by looking at the yolk or put the egg in a pan of plain water. If it sinks and rests horizontally, it's good. As the egg ages, the air cell gets bigger so it will either start to rise or float. Avoid eating old eggs.

Click here for Bad eggs: 10 ways to cut your salmonella risk

by Katy Green
www.shoptobegreen.com