Don't eat runny yolks! Health experts advise Americans to avoid eggs sunny side ... trends now
Americans are being warned to stay away from eggs with runny yolks amid increasing cases of bird flu in the US.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, A former FDA expert has urged people to cook their eggs thoroughly to kill off any lingering fragments of virus.
Farms in multiple states are struggling with outbreaks of the H5N1 strain among poultry and, for the first time, cattle.
Earlier this week, health officials in Texas confirmed that a dairy farmer caught the virus, making him only the second-ever American to contract the disease.
Dr Detwiler notes that when chickens become infected, the virus can be present in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. 'Consequently, the virus can contaminate the birds' environment, including the eggs they lay,' he said
Dr Darin Detwiler, food safety expert at Northeastern University and former advisor to the FDA and USDA, told DailyMail.com: 'Transmission of bird flu to humans through the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs, is very low. The risk arises with improperly cooked eggs or poultry meat.
'Using pasteurized eggs or ensuring eggs are fully cooked could provide an additional layer of safety, reducing the risk of potential exposure to the virus.'
Bird flu often spreads from waterbirds like ducks and geese to chickens. Dr Detwiler notes that when chickens become infected, the virus can be present in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.
'Consequently, the virus can contaminate the birds' environment, including the eggs they lay,' he said.
It's similar to common foodborne illnesses like salmonella and E coli, which infect humans through animal products that are not fully cooked.
Dr Detwiler, therefore, recommends customers be cautious about eggs that have runny yolks, which includes sunny side up, poached, soft boiled, and over easy.
'In the case of avian flu concerns, eggs should be cooked until both the white and yolk are firm, which ensures that the egg reaches a temperature that is likely to kill any viruses present,' he said.
'For dishes containing eggs, cooking to an internal temperature of 160 F (71 C) is recommended as a precaution to ensure safety as this is an effective kill step for bacteria and viruses, including the bird flu virus.'
'If eggs are not cooked thoroughly (for
