Some people drink raw eggs hoping for health benefits. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that everyone avoid drinking raw eggs or consuming any foods or beverages that contain eggs that are not fully cooked. The main health risk from consuming uncooked eggs is the food-borne illness salmonella.
Salmonella
Salmonella infection occurs when foods, such as eggs, have been contaminated with feces that contain the salmonella bacteria. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, cramps, chills, nausea, vomiting, muscle pains, headache and blood in your stools, and typically occur between eight and 72 hours after consuming contaminated food and usually last between four and seven days.
People at Risk
Some people are at higher risk for salmonella infections, including pregnant women, children, elderly individuals and people with compromised immune systems. Higher exposure to contaminated food and water and bowel or stomach disorders also increases your risk for salmonella. However, anyone can get this type of infection, so everyone should take the proper precautions.
Minimizing Risk
Between May 1 and November 30, 2010, an outbreak of salmonella caused by eggs caused an estimated 1,939 illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Minimize your risk by avoiding consuming raw eggs and foods containing raw eggs, keeping eggs and cooked dishes containing eggs refrigerated, throwing out dirty or cracked eggs and thoroughly washing your hands and any cooking surfaces that touch raw eggs.
Considerations
If you want to drink raw eggs or make foods that contain raw eggs or eggs that are not fully cooked, purchase pasteurized egg products or pasteurized shell eggs. Pasteurizing eggs minimizes salmonella risk. Although salmonella isn't deadly, some of the potential complications can be serious, including dehydration, reactive arthritis and bacteremia. Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by an infection, and bacteremia is a condition in which bacteria gets into your blood. Having bacteria in your blood can lead to serious medical problems, including blood poisoning and septic shock.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture; Shell Eggs from Farm to Table; April 2011
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs; April 2011
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Investigation Update: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Associated with Shell Eggs; December 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Salmonella Infection; April 2011
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