Julia Child on Egg Safety


The Way to Cook
by Julia Child, 1994, Alfred A. Knopf

“The egg, that perfect, pristine, primal object – we may not gobble it up as
profusely now as we used to, but every mouthful should be memorable…
WARNING. Be sure that your eggs come from a certified and carefully
inspected source – and make every effort to see that poultry inspection and
sanitary regulations are strictly enforced in your area. If we, the public, are
alert and demanding, our elected officials have no choice but to follow.
Use Grade AA or Grade A eggs, and never buy or use cracked or dirty eggs since broken or contaminated shells may have allowed harmful bacteria to penetrate.
Keep raw eggs and egg dishes refrigerated, serve cooked egg dishes as soon as
they are done; wash hands, utensils, and work surfaces in hot soapy water
whenever raw eggs are involved in a recipe."

"Eggs – about 1 in every 10,000 at this writing [1994] - may contain salmonella bacteria. The bacteria multiplies at room temperature, but it is quiescent when chilled. It is killed when the egg is heated over 140 degrees F, or is hard boiled,
and it is also killed by a fairly strong dose of acid – lemon juice or vinegar.
A healthy immune system is built to handle a certain amount of harmful bacteria, but infants, the ill, and the elderly should beware of raw and undercooked eggs.
As for me, I love eggs in any form, and I happily eat boiled, scrambled, soft-boiled, and poached eggs as well as soufflés and mayonnaise at home because I know my eggs have been handled in the USDA-approved manner, and that they have been under refrigeration practically from hen to table. Away from home, I am wary and usually abstemious."

Some Egg Rules

• Know your egg sources.

• Never buy unrefrigerated eggs.

• Never buy cracked eggs.

• Never leave eggs sitting about in the kitchen – warmth allows bacteria to multiply – keep them always in the refrigerator. If they need to be at room temperature, place them in a bowl of hot water for several minutes, then
  use at once.

• Always wash all bowls, utensils, work surfaces, and hand in hot soapy
  water after handling raw eggs.

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Here is Chef Emeril Lagasse's take on egg safety...
(from Every Day's a Party)

"Salmonella warning: Let’s talk about egg safety because I don’t want any of you
out there to get sick. I personally love homemade fresh mayonnaise and I make it with fresh—and I mean FRESH—raw eggs. I’ve never had any trouble, but I
want you to take some precautions. Always purchase your eggs from a reputable source, a place you can trust with your life. Don’t use eggs after the expiration
date on the carton. Don’t go leaving your eggs in the backseat of your car while you’re out and about, and once you get home, keep the eggs in the refrigerator.
I use eggs pretty quickly, so I don’t have to worry about keeping them too long
at home. But I suppose there’s a tiny risk some nasty old salmonella could sneak
into some eggs, so just be cautious about serving young kids or the elderly or to people who have health problems. Okay?"