Take care with summer eggs
Victoria’s chief health officer, Dr John Carnie, has warned that raw eggs can be a problem for older people during summer because gastroenteritis can pose a higher risk during the warmer months.
Dr Carnie said that “from a public health perspective we’d love to see people eat more eggs and less junk food but people do need to apply some basic food hygiene rules during summer. Many consumers know they have to keep prawns and oysters chilled, and cook chicken thoroughly but 76% of Victorians are unaware that undercooked eggs can also be a risk, especially for the elderly”.
“Check eggs are clean and have no visible cracks before you buy them, refrigerate your eggs at home, and cook them until they are hot all the way through. If you find a dirty or cracked egg then throw it out. Washing the egg actually makes it easier for bacteria to penetrate the porous shell,” Dr Carnie said.
The egg warning campaign is being run in Victoria by the Department of Human Services with the campaign title of ‘Eggs need TLC: buy clean, keep cool, cook well’.
