Are raw eggs okay?

[ann_of_loxley]

Im 35 weeks pregnant - and suddenly find myself not very hungry at all. I just want to pick here and there and really fancy smoothies at the moment. I was having such a lovely high protein breakfast of omlette with nuts and seeds, etc....but I just can't bring myself to eat much these days. So I was thinking I could chuck a few raw eggs into my smoothie (which I know I won't be able to taste once they are in there! lol)... But are they okay to eat?

[genesissparks]

i have done it quite a bit... some say its risky but i am under the impression that if they are quality eggs i shouldnt have a problem... i get organic free range eggs from my fiances co worker. my chiropractor suggested i do it, because apparently there is some nutrient in eggs that you get only when they are raw

[IAMommy]

I wouldn't, but like the PP said, it's about your supplier. The risk of salmonella from them is actually quite low, but I personally wouldn't risk it. I am also a huge worrywart when pregnant, just because we're at increased risk of food-borne illness. I already had food poisoning once this pregnancy and it makes me extra cautious.

[CherryBomb]

I wouldn't worry if they've been pasteurized.

[BarnMomma]

If you trust your egg supplier, then yes I think it's fine. I only eat my eggs lightly sunny side up so that the yolk is runny and slightly warmed only.

[violet_]

I think you can use Egg Beaters -- I believe you can buy it pasteurized that way but still use as you would raw eggs.

[MacKinnon]

I would not, I'm not comfortable with taking chances with raw or undercooked food. I use egg beaters in recipes that call for eggs that won't be cooked.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I would consume raw eggs is they were from a farmer I trusted and they were pastured. Supermarket eggs? Probably not. I also wouldn't touch egg beaters or pasteurized eggs though.

[ann_of_loxley]

hmm...tough one I guess.

I don't get ill when pregnant though. My whole family has had at tummy bug so far, three times this pregnancy and I have been the only one blessed to escape its wrath! lol - But I just don't get ill when I am pregnant!

So I may take my chances.

My eggs are local and free range and organic - though bought at the supermarket....lol

[Peace+Hope]

have you looked into coddling them?

i love home made ceasar dressing, and my recipe calls for raw eggs. i coddle the eggs: gently boil in the shell for 2 minutes. the inside does NOT reach the temp to kill salmonella, but most salmonella is found on the surface of the shell.

i do this in addition to buying local, organic, known supplier... it will cook the white that is closest to the shell a little, but it will still be soft and will blend in well to a smoothie.

[sheriwx]

I wouldn't because it sounds nasty.

I'm also paranoid about food poisoning and salmonella, that would be my other reason for doing it. I read once that only 1 in 20,000 eggs has salmonella though, if that comforts you.

[redvlagrl]

Given that you're in the UK, I probably wouldn't unless I bought eggs from a farmer (do you have a farmer's market near you).

That said, we eat raw/undercooked eggs in many things using mainly farmer eggs though sometimes organic eggs from the supermarket.

Perhaps you could buy some special farmer's eggs especially for eating raw if cost is an issue?

[starrmama]

I ate raw eggs and drank raw milk diring 2 pregnancies and was perfectly fine. I DID get local pastured eggs though, from farms I could trust to have healthy chickens... if you feel good about your source, I'd say go for it. If your source is iffy, find another farm quick and THEN go for it!

[ann_of_loxley]

Oi - whats wrong with UK eggs! lol

[WaitingForKiddos]

I think it sounds gross but if I decided to do it I'd feel fine using my own hen's eggs. Not grocery store eggs....even though they are pretty safe they are processed in a way I dont this is safe for raw eating.

[redvlagrl]

LOL, I suppose growing up in Australia we were always aware that the eggs there contain very low levels of salmonella compared to in the UK and US! So I ate even raw supermarket eggs with impunity. Though now that I live in Canada I am (a tiny bit) more careful

[MyZymurgy]

What a great question! I would normally avoid raw eggs... but yesterday I had some homemade ice cream (which was AWESOME) and it contained raw eggs. Does freezing kill salmonella just like cooking? I highly doubt the folks that made this ice cream used organic/local eggs... so maybe I was being too risky.