Member-only story
FOOD SAFETY
The Great Unwashed
Eggs, that is
Here’s the debate in Shakespearean terms: To wash or not to wash? That is the question. Eggs, that is.
Europeans don’t wash their eggs. Americans wash their eggs. Who is operating on fact, and who is operating on fear?
The Great Egg Debate: Contrasting approaches to egg safety
So you purchased some backyard chicks, watched them grow for nine months, and found your first egg! You are so excited yet freaked out a bit. The egg is still warm, having just come out of the chicken. It is also a little messy, not like store-bought eggs. Well, that is not like store-bought American eggs.
To wash or not to wash is the question at hand for the incredible edible egg. The debate is global, passionate, and at times fierce. Surprisingly, the answer is far from a simple yes or no.
The European approach to freshly laid eggs is to leave ’em be
Most eggs worldwide belong to the great unwashed class. In the European Union, egg washing is generally prohibited for Grade A eggs. In the USA, it is mandated by law to wash eggs sold in stores.
