Store promptly in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40° F or below.Proper storage of eggs can affect both quality and safety. Open the carton and make sure that the eggs are clean and the shells are not cracked.Buy eggs only if sold from a refrigerator or refrigerated case.You can help keep eggs safe by making wise buying decisions at the grocery store. To prevent illness from bacteria: keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly.Įggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella–by in-shell pasteurization, for example–are not required to carry safe handling instructions, but the labeling will usually say that they have been treated.

Certain people are at greater risk for severe illness and include children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes).įDA requires all cartons of shell eggs that have not been treated to destroy Salmonella to carry this safe handling statement: In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated quickly with antibiotics. However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. Symptoms usually last 4 to 7 days and most people get better without treatment. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting 12 to 72 hours after infection. Salmonella, the name of a group of bacteria, is a common cause of food poisoning in the United States. Protect yourself and your family by following these safe handling tips when buying, storing, preparing, and serving eggs-or foods that contain them. WATCH a video on Playing it Safe With Eggsįresh eggs, even those with clean, uncracked shells, may contain bacteria called Salmonella that can cause foodborne illness, often called “food poisoning.” FDA has put regulations in place to help prevent contamination of eggs on the farm and during shipping and storage, but consumers also play a key role in preventing illness linked to eggs.

Golden farm fresh eggs