A leading nutritional scientist has addressed mounting concerns over the safety of eggs amid the UK’s bird flu outbreak, which has infected at least one human. The disease can decimate flocks, prompting the implementation of numerous zones where commercial birds, including chickens, must be kept indoors.
Professor Tim Spector, a genetic epidemiology expert at King’s College London and co-founder of the Zoe health app, shared his insights on Instagram. |While saying eating eggs should be perfectly safe he said there were two steps cooking eggs: ensuring the water reaches 165°F (73°C) to completely eliminate the virus and also explained how to clean them first.
Spector stressed that eggs are safe to eat if proper precautions are taken. He explained: “Are eggs safe to eat? Bird flu is spreading, and here’s what you need to know from an epidemiology point of view. Whilst these outbreaks are affecting poultry farms, the actual risk from eggs remains minimal. Infected hens don’t lay eggs, and commercial farms cull these affected flocks before the eggs ever reach stores.
“In the United States, eggs are also washed and sanitised, further reducing any risk of handling them. Even in the unlikely event that a contaminated egg made it to your kitchen, cooking it thoroughly. 165 °F kills the virus completely. pasteurised egg products are another safe option.”
Prof Spector has shared important insights on food safety, especially in regard to eggs, asserting: “If you’re cooking them properly, at a minimum of 165°F or or 73°C, the virus is completely destroyed. Another question I get often is should I wash my eggs, even if they look dirty? The answer is no. Washing them further with water damages the protective layer of the egg and makes it more likely that any viruses or bacteria will enter the egg itself. So if they’re dirty, just clean them with a cloth before you cook them.”
Highlighting the significant health benefits of eggs, Prof Spector notes that they are packed with indispensable vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, B12, and selenium as well as premium protein.
He remarks, “The yolk is especially rich in choline, a crucial nutrient for brain health, and eggs are one of the few natural sources of vitamin D. The only thing they lack is fibre, so pairing them with fibre-rich foods like these pea pancakes.”
Prof Spector concluded with a reassuring message on egg consumption: “So should you stop eating eggs? No. If you’re using good food handling practises, cooking eggs properly, then the risk is extremely low. Bigger issue is that the impact of these outbreaks on food supply, prices and farming is quite large, but when it comes to food safety, the science is clear, eggs remain a safe and nutritious choice.”
A person in the West Midlands was confirmed to have caught bird flu after being in close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed. UKHSA chief medical adviser Professor Susan Hopkins said: “The risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low despite this confirmed case.
“We have robust systems in place to detect cases early and take necessary action, as we know that spill over infections from birds to humans may occur. Currently there is no evidence of onwards transmission from this case.
“People are reminded not to touch sick or dead birds and it’s important that they follow Defra advice about reporting any suspected avian influenza cases.”
