Opening an egg that looks perfect only to find an unsightly bloodstain can be alarming. Many assume that these egg whites are not safe to eat. Not only can this assumption ruin breakfast, but throwing away bloodstained eggs can also contribute to food waste. So are they fit to eat?
Red egg whites should not be consumed
If when opening an egg we see that the whites are completely red, we must throw them away immediately. This red color may be due to the presence of Pseudomonas bacteria, which can cause significant health complications. For their part, health experts argue that these pseudomonas bacteria are commonly found in the environment, in places as natural as soil or water.
This is the most common type of egg spoilage, and consuming eggs contaminated with such bacteria can lead to food poisoning, experts say. This bacterium produces a water-soluble, fluorescent, greenish pigment in the egg white.
Although some color variations can be a sign of spoilage , others are perfectly safe. A cloudy egg white (albumen) is a sign that the egg is very fresh. A clear egg white is an indication that the egg is aging.
Blood spots may also appear in the egg white, signifying that bleeding occurred after the egg was released into the oviduct. Another type of stain found on egg yolks and egg whites is meat stain. Unlike bloodstains, meat stains appear in the egg white as brown, red, or white deposits. Flesh spots are most commonly found in the egg white and typically form from bits of tissue picked up by the egg as it passes through the oviduct.
What if it has little red specks?
The bloodstains are the result of the rupture of small blood vessels in the hen’s ovaries or oviduct, the tube through which eggs pass from the ovaries to the outside world.
It’s understandable that we worry about eating bloodstained eggs. However, bloodstained eggs are safe to eat as long as they are thoroughly cooked. Eating raw or undercooked eggs, whether or not they contain blood spots, increases the risk of salmonellosis, an infection with Salmonella bacteria that can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
Also keep in mind that eggs with whites tinted pink, green, or red may contain spoilage-causing bacteria and should be discarded.
If we open an egg and find a bloodstain, there are several ways to handle the situation. In the case of not having made us lose our appetite, we will simply mix it with the rest of the egg when we cook it. If we don’t feel comfortable consuming the bloodstain, we’ll take a knife and scrape out the yolk before preparing the meal.
