Is it safe to eat eggs again?
News flash: it is safe to consume eggs and poultry in an avian flu outbreak.
Early last month, we reported that South Africa is in the midst of its worst avian flu outbreak. The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) reported that affected farms have been placed under quarantine and sources are reporting that the number of cases of avian flu has declined this month.
SAPA also has more good news to share: even during a breakout of avian flu, it is still safe to eat eggs and poultry.
Properly cooked eggs (and chicken too) do not pose a risk of infecting humans with the avian flu. This is because heat effectively destroys this virus. Of course, eating raw eggs may put you at risk of food-borne illness. This is why it is important to always cook your eggs properly before eating. Cooking can even improve the absorption of some nutrients in the egg, like protein, which is important for immunity and muscle building.
You can also rest assured that any eggs and poultry that you find at your local grocery store are safe to eat because there are many strict guidelines for safety measures in an outbreak like this. In fact, avoiding eggs can do more harm than good for our health as eggs are a cost-effective and nutritious food for any time of the day.
Renowned for their protein and nutrient density, eggs stand among the most nourishing foods on the planet. One large egg contains 13 essential vitamins along with 7g of protein, making it a valuable and cost-effective dietary addition suitable for individuals of all ages, worldwide.
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Why does the heading say “again”? It was never unsafe to eat eggs during the avian flu epidemic. Farms were quarantined to prevent bird flu from spreading to other poultry farms. It is just that eggs became unaffordably expensive due a shortage of eggs since a lot of birds died and were slaughtered due to the disease.