Does anybody worry about SALMONELLA in their EGG Creams?

[nanberrycritter]

I haven't tried the egg creams yet. I can't help but think of salmonella from raw eggs. Anybody else worry about this? Anybody ever get sick from their egg cream? What's the deal?

[Houston Heather]

I cringe every time I see the title "Egg Creams".

I had salmonella, it was horrible, I almost died. I worry about people who choose to consume raw eggs, or worse yet, feed them to family. I ate bad scrambled eggs at a national restaurant chain (think house of...).

I hope no one ever gets sick. I really pray it no one ever endures what I did. I wanted to die. I PRAYED to die.

[Tuscanytrace]

No. I wish I could find the thread for you, but someone here (probably Tooter) calculated that to get salmonella from a raw egg, you'd have to eat either two or three raw daily for 41 years to beat the statistics against it. That's for your typical confinement-raised supermarket egg.

For farm eggs, hatched from healthy chickens running around in the yard eating bugs (not caged up on top of each other), the only person who has lived long enough to get salmonella from them is Methuselah--I think. The chance was so low you'd have to eat 2-3 for close to 1,000 years.

I've eaten that many daily for months with no trouble. On the other hand, there is a Chinese restaurant that I used to eat at fairly frequently. It wasn't until I saw a newspaper article about it that I realized that like clockwork, 12 hours after I'd eaten there I got sick! Yet even after the article, the place is still open. Yet we're so convinced about the dangers of raw eggs that they even sell pasteurized ones!

Another reason I'm not concerned, and even give them to my kids sometimes: coconut oil. My family eats a lot of coconut oil. The CDC has done a study that shows that it destroys 20 classes of viruses by dissolving their outer protein coatings, as well as most bacteria (including staph and strep), and inhibiting fungi. Two other university studies have duplicated the results. And it has a rapid effect on things in the digestive tract, because it doesn't have to go through the bloodstream to get there.

So between the very low chance of getting sick from raw eggs, and having the coconut cream right in my egg cream, I'm not worried at all. I'm a whole lot more worried about my car's brakes.

(and sorry, Heather, that you DID beat the odds and get it.)

[hummingbird11]

Ditto to what Tuscanytrace wrote!

So nope, I do not worry about it, but I am careful.

I buy fresh, organic, cage free eggs and keep them cold.

I am careful with the eggshells because THAT is where you risk the most salmonella, so try not to let the egg touch the shell or let any bits of shell drop into your drink mix or blender when you're cracking the eggs...

and here's some good reading for you:
?? RAW EGGS ??

Happy Egg Creaming!
(Sorry, Heather)

Originally Posted by nanberrycritter

I haven't tried the egg creams yet. I can't help but think of salmonella from raw eggs. Anybody else worry about this? Anybody ever get sick from their egg cream? What's the deal?

[Jake]

I feel bad for anyone who had to deal with Salmonella. It probably really sucks. That said, statistics are statistics. I'm just abut as worried that I will be attacked and killed by pigs as I am that I will die of Salmonella.




egg creams are gross though

[Stackeyha]

I'm also one that doesn't worry too much about it. I alos go out of my way to buy farm fresh eggs and I USUALLY wash the shells before cracking them.

The only ones I absolutely avoid eating raw (not much interested in cooking them either) are the ones that were contaminated by one that cracked...you know a hair line crack that seeps or one that cracked and then ooogged on some other egg or in the carton...I AT LEAST wash those and more often than not toss them.

[CTIgrad]

Do I think about it, yes. Am I worried, no.

I will admit, that when I made mine this morning I thought about the recent outbreak and pondered if it was LCF egg creams as the mystery thing making people sick. Highly doubt it but it was a fleeting thought.

[Gladsome]

I tried an egg cream once.
While it was good and my children made fun of me as I was drinking it...
The next day I had the runsssssssssss.....
Haven't had one since. Would I try them again, maybe.

[jacksmixedtape]

No, I didn't get salmonella when I ate cookie dough as a kid and I haven't gotten it putting raw eggs in smoothies for months (makes them creamier!). If your immune system is strong from low carbing and you're eating organic eggs, you probably don't have to worry about it. There will always be that unfortunate statistic, though!

[Mommie22boys]

Yes, when the first big discussions started about egg creams a few months ago, there were many who questioned (and I'm sure many still do) the safety of raw eggs. I think the statistic that kept being quoted was "1 in about30,000 eggs" may contain salmonella. And THAT'S the regular store eggs, NOT the eggs from cage-free, bug-eating, happy chickens. Even so, for added safety, it was recommended that you wash the outside of the egg before consuming, as the most likely place for contamination was on the outside of the shell.

I still enjoy an egg cream from time to time. In fact, my dinner on the run tonight was a delicious one containing a whole egg and 2 egg yolks (among other things. . .).

[whatjelly]

Originally Posted by Mommie22boys

Even so, for added safety, it was recommended that you wash the outside of the egg before consuming, as the most likely place for contamination was on the outside of the shell.

that's zactly what I was just going to say!!!

if you are worried about it, just wash the egg real well before cracking it.

I think the process of processing ( ) the egg gets all those germs off though...

[nanberrycritter]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm still on the fence. I remember a long long time ago having yummy egg nog from raw eggs, so I have no issue with them taste wise. But I just did some reading and according to the CDC the threat is from the inside of the egg, from infected chickens who pass the salmonella along before the shell is formed. Also, the Northeastern part of the US has a higher rate of infected chickens and I live in Massachusetts. So I'm still not sure if I want to chance it. But the thought of drinking yummy (non-alcoholic) egg nogg for breakfast sure is tempting.

[whatjelly]

hmmm, I hadn't thought of an eggnog egg cream!!! that'd be good!

[flatferenghi]

not in Noo Yawk they don't. do like I do. A dash of cream & diet chocolate soda poured from on high & voila !!! Dats all!!! Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by jacksmixedtape

No, I didn't get salmonella when I ate cookie dough as a kid and I haven't gotten it putting raw eggs in smoothies for months (makes them creamier!). If your immune system is strong from low carbing and you're eating organic eggs, you probably don't have to worry about it. There will always be that unfortunate statistic, though!

GREAT POINT !!
And frankly, I'm more worried about getting salmonella from spinach, tomatoes or jalapeños these days!



The Health Benefits of Raw Eggs
by John Claydon
Regenerative Nutrition - Natural Health Supplements

The process of cooking eggs destroy the very goodness that our bodies so desperately need as the nature of proteins and fats is altered when exposed to heat. When cooked, the egg protein changes its chemical shape it is often this process that can be the cause of allergies. Generally when eating raw eggs, any incidence of egg allergy will disappear.

Surprisingly, in spite of ‘bad press’ raw eggs, organic or at least from a known source of healthy free-range chickens, are an excellent health tonic. The regular consumption of raw eggs will do wonders for your overall health. Exceptionally easy to digest, raw eggs provide a wonderful boost to the immune system, and a completely balanced nutritional package. A good immune system is one of several things the body needs to overcome cancer.

Many people’s diets are deficient in high quality proteins and fats, and eggs are one the very best sources of these. Raw eggs have many benefits, they contain essential nutrients for the brain, nerves, glands and hormones, they are nutritionally balanced, and we highly recommend the addition of raw eggs to your nutritional programme. The sulphur amino acids help to keep you young, raw eggs also contain an abundance of other vital substances including protein, essential fatty acids along with niacin, riboflavin, biotin, choline, vitamins A, D and E, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, iron, iodine, copper, zinc and sulphur. Egg yolks are one of the few foods that contain vitamin D.

Poisoning from salmonella has been exaggerated in the past. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2002 indicated that only 2.3 million, of the 69 billion eggs produced annually, are contaminated with salmonella. In other words 0.003% or 1 in every 30,000 eggs. The bulk of these come from battery chicken eggs and chickens kept in unhealthy conditions - only sick chickens lay salmonella contaminated eggs. If only healthy chicken eggs (organic and free range ideally) are consumed, then far less than one in 30,000 eggs are contaminated. Salmonella is a common micro-organism found almost everywhere, and is just as likely, or more likely, to proliferate on cooked food kept in the fridge. Infection is normally mild gastric symptoms, but in rare cases where the immune system is very low such in the elderly who have had much anti-biotic use, and the source is greatly contaminated, death can result. But such a person is highly lightly to contract one of many common micro-organisms and die from that. To give some perspective, in the highly unusual situation of contracting Salmonella, in a healthy person, an infection is nothing to worry about and is easily treated with high quality pro-biotics every half an hour until you feel better.

Method of Consuming Raw Eggs

From day one of starting raw eggs, your immune system becomes stronger and health will improve.

We recommend Zell Oxygen as a key supplement for overall health enhancement. Three raw eggs a day (this will take the place of one meal), seems to be the preferred amount taken by people who regularly consume raw eggs. It is sensible to build up the amount of raw eggs consumed gradually. They are best taken by breaking them into a cup and swallowing whole. It can be helpful to cut through the yolk with a knife to make it easier to swallow, If you have a mental problem with swallowing raw eggs, (they are almost tasteless and easy to swallow) blend with a little goats or sheep’s milk or even avocado, but ideally raw eggs should not be blended as the molecular structure is damaged. Inspect the egg, if it has been cracked do not use it, once broken into the cup or blender smell it, if it smells off do not use it.

It is best to keep eggs un-refrigerated, but in a cool place. Refrigeration can destroy the vital amino acids in raw eggs and can also disguise the distinctive smell of an egg that has gone off.

Raw Eggs and Cholesterol

There is no danger from the cholesterol build up since 2/3 of cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver. The amount of cholesterol consumed in the diet does not relate to the amount of cholesterol deposited. Many studies have shown that the cholesterol in eggs does not raise cholesterol level in the body. Furthermore, eggs contain Lecithin, a valuable nutrient that helps the body to process fats and cholesterol.
Eggs contain valuable fat needed to keep us healthy. On the other hand heated or processed fats are converted into Trans-fats - toxic chemicals that harden in the body, around every cell and clog the circulation. Margarine contains an abundance of Trans-fats and is not part of a healthy diet. Do not be afraid of that natural product that has been eaten with no adverse effects for thousands of years, butter. The initial report that cholesterol in foods leads to health problems was released to the press without scientific validation, and has since been proven by hundreds of scientists and studies around the world to be completely false. The only benefits from the initial press release were to the margarine and vegetable oil industries.

Raw Eggs and Biotin Deficiency

Nature created an egg to be a balanced live food – as long as you eat the biotin rich yolk along with the white, there is no risk of a biotin deficiency.

Quote from the book “The Recipe for Living Without Disease" By Aajonus Vonderplanitz

Free range (ideally from healthy chickens, including organically certified, even better are fertile eggs).

“Raw eggs are one of the best compact foods in nature. Eggs are the ultimate, complete fast food. However the protein in eggs is not utilised for cellular reproduction. They are utilised for regeneration and maintenance. The relationship between raw eggs and salmonella poisoning is a myth"

(Reference the great egg panic by Emily Green, LA R times Jan 2000)

Eggs are remarkable for everyone especially the infirm. Three years ago a medical doctor called me on a Thursday evening about her 70 yr old female patient with emphysema. She explained that her patient had been mainly bed-ridden for two years, was on 100% oxygen and respiratory machines. She prognosed that her patient would die that weekend unless I could help. I told her that the only thing I thought might help at that late stage was eggs. I recommended that she get her patient 10 dozen raw eggs, and put them on her bed table. I suggested that she ask her patient to eat one as often as she could and that there was no limit. Very early Monday morning, I received a call from the patient. She told me that she was off the machines, out of bed and feeling stronger that she had in years. She had eaten 66 eggs over the weekend.

If eggs are whipped, beaten or blended without raw milk, raw cream, or coconut cream, many of the enzymes are oxidised and lost. It is best to break open the egg into a cup or glass and swallow whole. Most people are repelled by this, but with a little courage it is found to be easy. There is almost no taste and the egg, even big ones are easily swallowed. Generally, I find, 3 to 4 eggs taken in the morning are an important part of my well-being programme. The cholesterol in raw eggs is not deposited in the arteries and is an essential nutrient for aiding health and well-being. The white of the egg has been said to interfere with biotin assimilation, but nature knows best by making the egg yolk very rich in biotin. The egg in its entirety is a very balanced food and only supports health and should be taken in its entirety, yolk and white together.

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John Claydon DHom qualified as a Homeopath in 1993 and has since been dedicated to studying and developing healing modalities in the field of Nurtitional Health. Founded innovative food state supplement company Regenerative Nutrition in 1994 - Please visit Regenerative Nutrition - Natural Health Supplements for more info. Originally published on SearchWarp.com for John Claydon Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Article Source: The Health Benefits of Raw Eggs

[oobladee]

You can buy pasturized eggs. Most stores have them. I am with the others on the odds - it just is not likely. This most recent outbreak is a few hundred people who actually got sick compared to thousands and thousands who ate the same food. We also have no way to know whether the people who got sick were a high risk group - typically the very young, the very old, or folks with immune issues. Healthy people very rarely get sick!

[nanberrycritter]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jacksmixedtape
No, I didn't get salmonella when I ate cookie dough as a kid and I haven't gotten it putting raw eggs in smoothies for months (makes them creamier!). If your immune system is strong from low carbing and you're eating organic eggs, you probably don't have to worry about it. There will always be that unfortunate statistic, though!

GREAT POINT !!
And frankly, I'm more worried about getting salmonella from spinach, tomatoes or jalapeños these days!

I disagree. The amount of egg in a couple of spoonfuls of cookie dough is whole lot less than two whole eggs. So if an egg were contaminated you'd be much better able to fight off the small amount of salmonella organisms in the cookie dough you ate. Consuming the entire raw egg poses a larger threat.

[jacksmixedtape]

Originally Posted by nanberrycritter

I disagree. The amount of egg in a couple of spoonfuls of cookie dough is whole lot less than two whole eggs. So if an egg were contaminated you'd be much better able to fight off the small amount of salmonella organisms in the cookie dough you ate. Consuming the entire raw egg poses a larger threat.

A couple spoonfuls? Dang, I was a little cookie monster (although ridiculously thin!) as a kid...

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by jacksmixedtape

A couple spoonfuls? Dang, I was a little cookie monster (although ridiculously thin!) as a kid...

Ditto! My Mom used to make loaves of chocolate chip icebox cookies and we'd keep 'em in the freezer to slice & bake. Those loaves never made it to the oven! We always ate every bit of cookie dough RAW!

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by oobladee

You can buy pasturized eggs. Most stores have them. I am with the others on the odds - it just is not likely. This most recent outbreak is a few hundred people who actually got sick compared to thousands and thousands who ate the same food. We also have no way to know whether the people who got sick were a high risk group - typically the very young, the very old, or folks with immune issues. Healthy people very rarely get sick!

Agree on ALL points!

[LowCarbSleepyToast]

I worry But the egg creams are very tasty! Also, I think about it like I think about low carb in general... "If it makes me sick, that'll teach me" lol...Hasn't made me sick yet.


Also, I put mine in hot coffee and I think that pasturizes them. If I don't blend them they get all chunky with cooked egg

[wannabeslim4life]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I cringe every time I see the title "Egg Creams".

I had salmonella, it was horrible, I almost died. I worry about people who choose to consume raw eggs, or worse yet, feed them to family. I ate bad scrambled eggs at a national restaurant chain (think house of...).

I hope no one ever gets sick. I really pray it no one ever endures what I did. I wanted to die. I PRAYED to die.

my family all had it and I still do not know where it came from (we had a bearded dragon at the time so maybe from him)but I am very paranoid, I never want to deal with that again!