Is It Safe to Eat Eggs During the Bird Flu Outbreak?
As the H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu, has caused recent egg shortages, many consumers are left wondering about the safety of consuming eggs. The good news is that if you can get your hands on a carton, fully cooked eggs are safe to eat. Experts emphasize that the chance of infected eggs reaching grocery shelves is minimal due to rigorous inspection protocols in place for chicken flocks.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reassures consumers that properly cooking eggs effectively destroys pathogens, including H5N1. According to a 2010 risk assessment by the FDA and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, the likelihood of humans contracting the virus through contaminated shell eggs is low. This is largely because infected hens typically become ill or die quickly, ceasing to lay eggs, and because of the strict safeguards implemented, including flock testing and federal inspection programs.