Backyard or Farm Fresh Eggs – Are They All That They Are Cracked Up to Be?

Here in Northern Indiana, the handwritten “Eggs for Sale” signs are a common sight, and they are usually in someone’s yard next to a cooler. This often makes me question how safe those eggs are to eat. Have they been washed, or do they still have the cuticle on them?  How have they been washed, and if so, in what? There are just so many questions!  I also tend to look at how the birds are housed. Are there several species of birds all in the same pen or are there just chickens? Is the pen and coop clean? Is the surrounding area weed and free from trash or harborages which may draw pests? Many people do have clean, well-kept birds and they are sure to keep their eggs clean and refrigerated. There is one backyard flock that I pass frequently that always made me truly wonder about the fate of those who ate their products. The hand lettered sign is now gone and has been replaced with a more commercial type of sign, but the rest of the conditions are still the same.

Catching Salmonella from eggs is not just limited to those eggs that you buy in the grocery store. Most poultry can carry salmonella and pass it along in their eggs. The big commercial layer operations take steps to prevent the diseases that the birds can pass on to the consumer by vaccinating their flocks, disinfecting the barns, and limiting exposure to environmental pathogens. Commercial eggs are also regulated by the FDA, USDA FSIS, or APHIS, depending on how many birds are being housed, what type of eggs that they are producing, how many eggs they produce, and how they will be used. These regulations change somewhat from year to year, but these agencies have begun to streamline who is responsible for what.

If you are considering starting your own backyard flock so that you can have fresh eggs available, there are several resources that you can use to make sure that you are growing healthy birds, and that the eggs you produce are safe. Check out your local county extension office, the library, or the list of resources at the end of this blog. You should make sure that you research the subject thoroughly to make sure that you have the time and resources to take care of your flock. If you already have a flock that is producing eggs, here are some safety tips:

• Collect eggs as soon as possible, ideally twice per day (1, 2, 3).
• Do not attempt to clean extremely dirty or cracked eggs (2).
• When cleaning, do not soak the eggs, rinsing is best due to the porous nature of the shells. Soaking eggs allows the bacteria from the outside of the egg to migrate into the egg itself (1,2,3).
• Always wash with warm water and allow them to air dry before storing them (1,2,3).
• Refrigerate after cleaning at temperatures between 35 to 40 degrees (1,2,3).

Make sure to check out the references listed, as there is a lot of good information on flock management to ensure that you are producing safe eggs. They have really done a nice job of outlining everything you need to know about producing safe eggs.

To be fair, all raw eggs should be handled with care, whether they are fresh from the farm next door or bought commercially at the grocery store. You can help prevent foodborne illness by following the tips:

1. Make sure to check eggs before purchasing to ensure that they are clean and free from cracks.
2. Make sure that they have been refrigerated at the time of purchase and are stored below 40 °F as soon as you get them home.
3. Always cook eggs thoroughly before consuming. Cooking kills any harmful bacteria that can be living on or in the egg itself.
4. Eat hard boiled eggs within 1 week of cooking (5).
5. Eat any dish that contains egg within 3 to 4 days (5).
6. Eggs can be frozen, but not in the shell. Combine yolks and whites by mixing, or you can just freeze the whites by themselves (5).
7. Always cook casseroles that contain eggs to 165°F and refrigerate within 2 hours. Use smaller, shallower containers to prevent warm spots that allow bacteria to grow.

And while egg safety entails a lot of management and planning, we haven’t really even focused on the environment and how global warming and other environmental issues can impact those eggs that we assume are healthier because we grew them ourselves. A study that was performed in Australia highlights the idea that maybe we should be testing our soils for heavy metals if we garden or raise animals. It is definitely something to think about. It could be that home grown is not actually healthier. Check out the article and decide for yourself whether it is something that we should be considering in our approaches to food safety. Here is the link: https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/study-finds-backyard-hens-eggs-have-40x-more-lead-than-eggs-from-the-shop/

As always, stay safe, wash your hands, and enjoy what is left of your summer!

1. Russell, A. (n.d.). Backyard eggs: Tips for cleaning and storing eggs – AgriLife Today. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2020/07/16/backyard-eggs-tips-for-cleaning-and-storing-eggs/
2. SAFE HANDLING OF EGGS FROM SMALL AND BACKYARD FLOCKS. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://poultry.extension.org/articles/food-safety-with-poultry-meat-and-eggs/safe-handling-of-eggs-from-small-and-backyard-flocks/
3. Ingham, B., & Kean, R. (n.d.). Egg safety and the backyard flock. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://foodsafety.wisc.edu/assets/pdf_Files/Egg_Safety_and_the_Backyard_Flock.pdf
4. Welch, S. (n.d.). [No title]. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.farmanddairy.com/top-stories/how-to-make-sure-farm-fresh-eggs-are-safe-to-eat/669736.html
5. Center for Food Safety, & Nutrition, A. (n.d.). What You Need to Know About Egg Safety. U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA. Retrieved August 17, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/what-you-need-know-about-egg-safety
6. The Conversation. (2022, August 11). Study finds backyard hens’ eggs have 40x more lead than eggs from the shop. Cosmos Magazine. https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/study-finds-backyard-hens-eggs-have-40x-more-lead-than-eggs-from-the-shop/