Why are American eggs refrigerated?

To keep bacteria to a minimum, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires commercially sold eggs to be stored and transported below 45°F (7°C). Once eggs have been refrigerated, they must be kept refrigerated to prevent condensation from forming on the shell if they warm up.

Why do Americans refrigerate eggs and Europeans don t?

The answer has to do with bacteria: Salmonella. In the United States, it's more than a food safety recommendation that eggs be refrigerated – it's the law. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) determined that the best way to fight Salmonella contamination is by sanitizing the eggs before they reach the consumer.

Why are British eggs not refrigerated?

British authorities actually discourage refrigerating eggs on the theory that chilling and then warming could create condensation, which would allow salmonella to penetrate the shell.

Why don't they refrigerate eggs in other countries?

Many European countries, like the UK, vaccinate their hens to prevent the transmission of salmonella when the hens lay eggs. The vaccinations, in conjunction with the protection of the “cuticle,” are thought to protect the European eggs from bacteria, therefore they don't refrigerate their eggs.

Why do Europeans not wash eggs?

In Europe, it is unlawful to wash eggs because this process is believed to damage an outside layer of the egg shell known as the cuticle, making it easier for bacteria to penetrate the inside of an egg.

Why Do Americans Refrigerate Their Eggs and Most Other Countries Don't?

Why is washing eggs illegal in Europe?

According to the text of the EU egg marketing regulations this cuticle provides “an effective barrier to bacterial ingress with an array of antimicrobial properties.” It goes on to add that washing is prohibited because it could damage the cuticle making eggs even more vulnerable to contamination from pathogens and ...

Why are American eggs different?

Many large scale egg production facilities in the US feed their chickens cheap grain and corn mixed with supplements and antibiotics to keep them healthy, instead of feeding them a more balanced and higher-quality diet. This grain and corn diet causes pale yellow yolks.

Why does America have white eggs?

However, many people don't know what causes eggs to have different colors. The answer is quite simple — egg color depends on the breed of the chicken. For example, White Leghorn chickens lay white-shelled eggs, while Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds lay brown-shelled eggs ( 1 , 2 ).

Why is milk not refrigerated in Europe?

You may not have realized that Europeans actually buy and store their milk outside of the fridge. The reason is a simple one: Europeans rely on a completely different pasteurization method. Canadian and American milk manufacturers utilize high-temperature, short-time pasteurization.

Why don't Germans refrigerate their eggs?

With that protective layer washed away and the eggs heated by the washing, the eggs must stay chilled until they are consumed. If eggs are allowed to reach room temperature it can cause condensation and encourage mildew. So – washing is the answer to why don't Germans refrigerate their eggs.

Does Japan refrigerate eggs?

With the cuticle gone, it is essential — and, in the United States, the law — that eggs stay chilled from the moment they are washed until you are ready to cook them. Japan also standardized a system of egg washing and refrigeration after a serious salmonella outbreak in the 1990s.

Why do Americans remove coating from eggs?

Cleaning the eggs removes the cuticle, so the eggs must be kept at refrigeration temperature. Otherwise, the bacteria could easily enter the egg and multiply to dangerous levels. By keeping it out of the danger zone, salmonella can't multiply rapidly.

Why is there no fresh milk in Mexico?

Why doesn't some milk in Mexico have to be refrigerated? This pasteurization process takes the longest time and the food product is boiled at very low heat to eradicate pathogenic bacteria. Milk is pasteurized at 145F (63C).

Why does American milk taste different than Canadian milk?

Although the taste of milk is really dependent on your palate, one difference could be credited to the difference in food the cows eat. Because of the different climates, each region grows different feed for the cows.

Why does milk in France taste different?

UHT milk in France is marked as keeping for three months unopened, although it is actually usable for six to nine months. The process kills all the micro-organisms in the milk and deactivates most of the enzymes present, which slightly changes the taste.

Why are British egg yolks so orange?

The yolk color actually comes from what the hens eat: a diet rich in carotenoids, the natural yellow-orange pigment found in fruits (cantaloupe), vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, and kale), and flowers. No artificial color additives are allowed in chicken feed, so any orange yolks you spot come from a pure source.

What country has the best quality eggs?

Turkey (1.03 billion kilograms in shell)

Its egg production facilities and egg quality pass the European Union poultry industry standards. Its egg producers belong to the International Egg Commission as well.

Why do chefs use brown eggs instead of white?

For the biggest difference in taste, it comes down to freshness—and brown eggs are sometimes fresher, since they tend to come from local farmers and hit your supermarket with that local timeliness. However, there is negligible nutritional difference.

Do American eggs need to be refrigerated?

Without a cuticle, eggs need to be kept cold—not for the product itself, but to discourage bacterial growth in and on it. Conversely, eggs with their protective layers intact are much less likely to be infected by salmonella—at least on the inside—and because of this they don't need to be refrigerated.

How Long Can American eggs be unrefrigerated?

Cooking and Handling:

— Never keep eggs unrefrigerated for more than two hours. — Raw eggs and recipes that require them should either be cooked immediately or be refrigerated promptly and cooked within 24 hours.

Why are American eggs so yellow?

The yellow color in egg yolks, as well yellowish chicken skin and fat, comes from pigments found in plants called xanthophylls, primarily lutein, notes Han Jianlin, a geneticist at the International Livestock Research Institute.

Why are there no white eggs in the UK?

We are now seeing white eggs appear in our supermarkets more often. The reason we see fewer white eggs is due to the ratio of chicken in the UK. It is estimated that of the 40m egg-laying birds in the UK, only about 250,000-300,000 are breeds that lay white eggs.

Why are American egg yolks red?

Egg yolks get their colour from carotenoids. Carotenoids are plant pigments, responsible for red, orange and yellow hues in certain vegetables and fruits.

Why do French not refrigerate eggs?

European food safety experts took a different tack: They left the cuticle intact, made it illegal for egg producers to wash eggs, discouraged refrigeration (which can cause mildew growth—and bacterial contamination—should the eggs sweat as they come back to room temps), and started a program of vaccinating chickens ...

Why is French milk not refrigerated?

In order to keep, the milk must be kept refrigerated. In France, the land of Pasteur himself, milk is pasteurized using a method called “ultra-high temperature” processing, or “UHT,” that heats the liquid to above 275 degrees for a few seconds.