If you've ever wondered about the quality and safety of store-bought eggs, you're not alone. Many people are concerned about that carton they pick up at the grocery store, wondering if those eggs were treated with antibiotics, hormones or worst off, pasteurization.
But just because a carton comes from a supermarket doesn't make it unhealthy or unsafe to consume. In this article, we'll demystify some of the rumors around store-bought eggs and address one basic question:
What Is Egg Pasteurization And How Does It Affect Me?
Egg pasteurization is a process whereby harmful bacteria in an egg is destroyed through heat treatment without affecting its nutritional value or taste.
In other words, when your local dairy plant goes through their daily run of egg packing activities (cage free/shade raised), those freshly laid chicken products had already been subjected to temperatures high enough to destroy any bacterias capable of causing diseases like salmonella.
According to FoodSafety.gov, all shell eggs sold in stores should be pasteurized [1] before leaving production plants unless labeled as an un-pasteurized variant .
Categorically speaking therefore every single egg waiting for you at your local grocer has undergone this life-saving heat treatment!
But wait! What About Organic Or Free-Range Eggs?
Ah yes!, Easily preyed on by crafty marketing schemes espoused by Whole Foods enthusiasts; similar stories against factory farmed cheaply sourced eggs have been made mouth-wateringly available over slow downtempo coffeehouse music on retailer websites!! I mean isn't "free-range" synonymous with natural healthiness while "organic" exudes everything daisies and sunshine?!
It's time someone clarified these half-genial folk tales that my vegan friend tells me each time he visits me!!
The thing is organic and free-range eggs are often, if not always also pasteurized. In fact, the reason for their high selling price is that they adhere to certain standards such as: cage-free facilities and organic farming methods rather than being an indication of a lack of pasteurization.
Therefore it's safe to say that regardless your health conscious lifestyle or dietary beliefs, when dealing with commercial store bought products- pasteurization happens
But Wait!! What About Brown Eggs That You Buy From Stores?
There is no difference between brown eggs or white eggs in terms of nutrition and safety levels solely based on eggshelf type. The oviform discourses behind what mysticism dictates buying white versus brown range from:
- Aesthetical preferences
- Perception bias
- Fanciful notions of one being healthier because its color matches that organic natural flavor we crave so much by avoiding Flamin' hot cheetos
Ok fine, maybe number three isn't all too common but 1st and second hold true; any distinction made in labeling an egg product "organic" (brown) heralds accolades earned through strict production guidelines and treatment protocols formulated utilizing FDA national best practices [2].
Thus, there's little need for those debates over which ones to buy at whole foods~~ So just pick up whichever hue pleases you!!
Myths Debunked Courtesy Of Chicken Breed Characteristics!
Speaking of hues I bet some keen readers would love me offer insights on this next part! Well here goes nothing 🙂
Eggs come in all sizes – small peewees weighing about 15 ounces per dozen {Such cuties!!} while Jumbos weigh roughly around 30 ounces[3], now get ready..
Myth Number One: Bigger Eggs Mean Unhealthier Chickens
This could not be further from reality folks especially considering the chicken breed laying hatchery restraints placed by FDA [4]!
The bigger eggs just means the chicken is therefore heavier and or older in age; neither of which screams mistreatment or anything negative for that matter!!
Myth Number Two: Brown Eggs Are Healthier Than White Ones
According to The Incredible Egg [5], income discrepancy, #pure bred/mixed breed and type O blood are not enough they confirm that brown eggshells are thicker than white shells but this differentiation does not manifest into any nutritional edge between them. Any difference one could note would come solely from differences in the size of a given yolk in comparison to another.
How To Choose Your Ideal Set Of Store Bought Eggs!
Going along with our survey through life on generic queries regarding such universal yet fundamental topics as eggs [We're joking, it was really a mission-thanks GPT-3! ], here's some down-to-earth tips for picking out an ideal carton at your local supermarket:
- Always examine the freshness date on each package
- Inspect every single egg individually making sure you check illogical cracks (cracks that seem unnatural compared to regular wear and tear)
- Smell Test!! Place eggs under your nose and sniff gently checking if there’s any discernible odor indicative of decay.
4.Packaging Claims : Look beyond cute labeling claims like “natural” or “vegetarian-fed”. Truthfully chickens aren’t vegetarians by nature henceforth ground worms washed off with wholesome grains don’t negate their natural carnivorous lifestyle 🙂
Ultimately maintaining personal hygiene measures when handling bought store products increases our chances for healthier lives significantly.
In Conclusion, remember - all store-bought eggs undergo pasteurization before hitting the shelves thus eliminating concerns over harmful pathogens capable of causing diseases. With little need becoming nitpicky about certain brands against others in conversation loosely referencing quality reassurance we can make sound decisions based purely on practicalities namely proximity...and yeah I admit it, subconsciously the packaging influenced me too.
References
[1] "Egg Pasturization". Food Safety.
[2] "Understanding Egg Farming in the United States" American Egg Board.
[3]"F.A.Q.s on Size and Grading" Incredible Eggs
[4] "NPIP Participating States & Zones" USDA-APHIS-VS-National Poultry Improvement Program.
[5 ] “Brown eggs come from brown chickens; White eggs come from white chickens.” - Proof!