Should You Be Concerned About Salmonella and Eggs?
By Sara Butler
A lot of things go great with eggs -- salsa, bacon, and maybe some spinach. But one thing that also tends to come with eggs may not be something you really want: salmonella. Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods out there, so you can't simply walk away and avoid them in order to avoid unsavory things such as salmonella. The best thing to do in order to avoid foodborne illness is to educate yourself about what to look for and how to handle the food you eat.
What is Salmonella
Eggs can look perfectly fine inside and out, but salmonella can still be lurking. Salmonella lives inside the eggs and can make you sick if eggs aren't cooked well enough to kill it. That's why it's important to know how to handle and cook eggs appropriately so you can avoid getting sick.
How to Reduce Your Chance of Getting Sick
There are some things recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that can help reduce your chances of getting sick with a salmonella infection. You should:
- Buy eggs and egg products that have been pasteurized, which are easy to find
- Always keep eggs refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder
- Only buy eggs from sellers who have kept them refrigerated
- Never use eggs that are cracked or dirty
When you cook eggs, you should:
- Cook until the whites of the egg as well as the yolk are firm
- Cook egg dishes until they reach at least 160 degrees
- Use only pasteurized eggs for foods that have raw or only slightly cooked eggs in them such as certain salad dressings and sauces
- Eat foods containing eggs right away
- Wash hands and any surface that comes into contact with raw eggs
Has Salmonella Made You Sick?
There are certain people who can get dangerously ill from salmonella such as infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. For most people, salmonella will cause fever and abdominal cramping for between four and seven days. You may first get sick within 48 hours of eating contaminated food. See a healthcare provider if you have a high fever, prolonged vomiting, and signs of dehydration.
Make sure to handle your food appropriately in order to avoid illness! Following these tips can help keep you safe and your whole family healthy so you can keep eating eggs.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Round Rock, Tex.