Is coloring Easter eggs safe amid bird flu outbreaks?
Coloring eggs for Easter is a longstanding holiday tradition – but is it safe as bird flu outbreaks continue across the U.S.?
Experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have warned consumers to ensure that eggs and poultry products are fully cooked before eating.
Some even suggest staying away from runny eggs, including WebMD Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Whyte, who shared his thoughts on egg safety in a recent on-camera interview with Fox News Digital. (See the video at the top of the article.)
Since coloring Easter eggs requires the eggs to be hard-boiled, Whyte confirmed that there shouldn't be any bird flu-related risk.
"We are hearing a lot about bird flu … and there have been more cases in the last few weeks, but I wouldn't get overly concerned," he said.
"You definitely want to cook poultry, and you definitely want to make sure you cook eggs, typically at an internal temperature of about 165 degrees, but you don't want to be eating runny eggs right now."
Whyte said he's more concerned about current egg availability, as egg shortages continue and prices remain high.
"There are a lot of shortages of eggs, but coloring eggs is not going to expose you to bird flu," he said. "I wouldn't be concerned at all about coloring eggs."
"We're not hearing about any cases of bird flu from people who eat cooked poultry and cooked eggs."
The physician added that the only individuals who should be cautious are those who handle live poultry that could be infected with avian flu.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
Anna Wald, MD, head of the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Division and professor of medicine at the University of Washington, confirmed that store-bought and "properly cooked" eggs are safe to eat.
"Raw milk, however, is not safe," she previously told Fox News Digital.
"The deaths in farm cats from avian flu have been associated with raw milk consumption from infected cows. Pasteurized milk is safe."
The CDC's web page on food safety and bird flu notes that eating uncooked or under-cooked poultry or beef, or drinking raw milk, can "make you sick."
Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill bacteria and viruses like bird flu, according to the CDC.
The agency suggests separating uncooked poultry from cooked foods and cooking all poultry and poultry products (including eggs) "all the way" before eating.
"While there is no evidence that anyone in the United States has gotten infected with avian influenza A viruses after eating properly handled and cooked poultry products, uncooked poultry and other poultry products (like blood) could have been the source of a small number of avian influenza A virus infections in people in Southeast Asia," the CDC warned.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Salmonella outbreak tied to recalled eggs makes dozens sick across 7 states in the West and Midwest
A salmonella outbreak linked to a large egg recall has made dozens of people sick in seven states in the West and Midwest, federal health officials said Saturday. The August Egg Company recalled about 1.7 million brown organic and brown cage-free egg varieties distributed to grocery stores between February and May because of the potential for salmonella, according to an announcement posted Friday on the Food and Drug Administration's website. At least 79 people in seven states have gotten a strain of salmonella that was linked to the eggs, and 21 people have been hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The recall affects retailers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. The recalled eggs were sold under brand names including Clover, First Street, Nulaid, O Organics, Marketside, Raleys, Simple Truth, Sun Harvest, and Sunnyside. Plant code numbers for the recalled eggs are P-6562 or CA5330, according to the CDC's website. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map shows the locations of people affected by a Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring," the company said in a statement on the FDA's website. "We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization. The CDC advises people to throw away recalled eggs or return them to the store where they were purchased. Consumers should also wash and disinfect any surfaces that came in contact with the eggs. This is the latest in a string of salmonella-related outbreaks recently involving food. A tomato recall affecting three southern states was upgraded to a Class I recall, the most severe warning by the Food and Drug Administration. The recall was first announced in May over potential salmonella contamination. Also, nearly four dozen people across 18 states have gotten sick with salmonella food poisoning tied to recalled cucumbers, according to federal health officials. In an update, the CDC said the expanding outbreak led to at least 16 people being hospitalized.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Here Are The 9 States Being Hit With The Latest Egg Recall
Egg price decreases have been slow to arrive at grocery stores nationwide. Over the past two months, prices have finally begun to cool and a multi-state salmonella outbreak is just the punctuation mark to months of relentless eggflation that weary consumers don't need. But, it's what they've got! According to an official FDA announcement on June 6, nearly 2 million dozen egg cartons are being pulled from shelves due to a mass salmonella contamination risk. As if consumers weren't feeling wary enough, the specific recalled product is 1.7 million dozen brown, cage-free, certified organic eggs -- health-centric buzzwords that make customers feel like they're purchasing a product they can trust. This latest salmonella outbreak risk exponentially compounds the growing issue of consumer trust in food safety. For the first time since October 2024, month-to-month dozen egg prices finally decreased from $6.23 in March to $5.12 in April -- a national average price which still remains at a historic high. Eggflation was due largely in part to a shortage caused by an avian flu outbreak, which makes this latest recall of millions of eggs feel somehow even worse. The outbreak traces back to August Egg Company, a California-based manufacturer. As of June 5, the CDC has reported 79 cases of illness spanning seven states. The affected eggs were sold at Walmart stores in nine states: Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming, as well as several other grocery chains concentrated in California and Nevada. Read more: 12 Gluten-Free Pasta Brands, Ranked Worst To Best Twenty-one of the 79 ill consumers have been hospitalized, and the CDC estimates that the actual number of sickened people is much higher. Consumers reported becoming ill between February 24, 2025 and May 17, 2025. Luckily, as an exercise in reducing food waste on such a mass scale, the August Egg Company "immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens," per a statement from the company, as reported by the FDA. To stay safe, people who have recently purchased eggs from Walmart should check their cartons for sell-by dates between March 4, 2025 and June 19, 2025. Foodies who have purchased eggs from grocery chains Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, or Ralphs should look for sell-by dates from March 4, 2025 to June 4, 2025. The packages of affected eggs will be printed with the plant code number P-6562 or CA5330 with the Julian Dates between 32 and 126. A full list of affected plant numbers and UPCs is included in the FDA report. Shoppers who spy any of the above details on their egg cartons are being instructed to return the product to its place of purchase for a full refund. To be safe, sanitize all surfaces with which the affected product might have come into contact. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chicago Faucets Hosts Public Health Webinar to Help Facilities Comply with Emerging Legionella Regulations
Spenser Johnson to Present "Navigating Evolving Water Management Regulations: Ensuring Compliance & Public Safety" Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 11:00 am CDT DES PLAINES, Ill., June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As water safety regulations continue to evolve across the United States, Chicago Faucets is hosting a new, expert-led webinar on June 19 at 11am CST designed to help facility managers in healthcare and other regulated environments stay ahead of compliance challenges. The webinar, will be presented by Spenser Johnson, Director of Water Safety and Management at Barclay Water Management, Inc. It is titled "Navigating Evolving Water Management Regulations: Ensuring Compliance & Public Safety," and will offer vital insights into developing and maintaining effective Water Management Programs (WMPs) that align with national standards and state-specific mandates. This educational topic will be presented Thursday, June 19, 2025, 11:00 am CDT. Click here to register. Legionella Looms Everywhere, New Regulations Coming Up Healthcare facilities, long-term care communities, colleges, hotels, athletic centers, parks and recreation buildings, and office complexes are increasingly expected to proactively manage waterborne risks such as Legionella. While not all these facilities are directly regulated by organizations like American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Joint Commission, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the standards and guidance they provide are shaping industry expectations. Additionally, new state-level regulations in Ohio, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey are significantly raising the bar for water safety compliance—making it essential for all building types with complex plumbing systems to stay informed and prepared. Spenser Johnson, Director of Water Safety and Management of Barclay will break down regulatory expectations into actionable strategies, covering: The 6 Steps of a Water Management Plan (ASHRAE 188): From risk assessment to documentation State-Specific Requirements: Including Ohio's Administrative Code 3701-22-07 and New Jersey's Senate Bill 2188 CDC Data on Legionnaires' Disease: What past outbreaks reveal about WMP failures Verification and Validation: How to ensure your WMP is more than a paper plan Chicago Faucets Champions Efforts for Public Health that Reduce Risks "Legionnaires' disease outbreaks remain preventable if Water Management Programs are correctly implemented and maintained," said Richard Nortier, Director of Marketing at Chicago Faucets. "This webinar, the third in our Public Health Series delivers the tools and updates that today's facility managers need to act confidently. Every facility with a complex water system, regardless of sector, should have a formal Water Management Plan in place to reduce risk, ensure accountability, and support public health." Who Should Attend? This session is ideal for: Facility Managers in healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and government Building and Plumbing Engineers responsible for complex plumbing systems Environmental Health & Safety Professionals seeking compliance clarity Infection Prevention Specialists, Nurses, and Operations Directors Subject Matter Expert: Spenser Johnson Spenser Johnson, of Barclay Water Management is an ASSE 12080 Certified Legionella Water Safety and Management Specialist. She brings more than eight years of experience in Legionella risk mitigation. She has developed site-specific WMPs for over 100 facilities and works closely with teams to provide remediation support and supplemental disinfection strategies. Spenser's leadership will equip attendees with immediately applicable insights grounded in real-world expertise. Reserve Your Spot Today Water safety is not optional—it's a regulatory necessity and a public health today and get the guidance you need to navigate what's next: About Chicago Faucets Chicago Faucets offers a wide range of products for healthcare, education, and commercial facilities. Chicago Faucets is committed to innovation, quality, and environmental sustainability, with many products manufactured in the USA and meeting stringent industry standards. Chicago Faucets is a member of the ASPE, ASHE, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the International WELL Building Institute. The company is also a partner with EPA WaterSense, and a charter sponsor of the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Many of the plumbing fittings meet the USGBC guidelines for LEED, EPA WaterSense and CALGreen. For more information on the Chicago Faucets offering, visit or call 800-566-2100. Contact: Perrie View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Chicago Faucet Company
