Have you ever wondered how safe your eggs are? According to the American Egg Board, the risk of getting a food borne illness from eggs is very low. Eggs are however a perishable food and should be handled with care. Eggs should be kept in a refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and should be thoroughly cooked before eating.
Very occasionally eggs can be contaminated. The inside of an egg was once considered almost sterile. But, in the last few years, a bacteria called Salmonella enteritidis, often called SE has been found inside a small number of eggs. Scientists estimate that 1 in every 20,000 eggs may be contaminated with this bacteria. This means that the chance an egg might contain this bacteria is 0.005% (five one-thousandths of one per cent.) Proper cooking eliminates the risk.