• Gork@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    As an American, I cannot legally touch any egg that hasn’t been ultra-pasteurized followed by continuous cold chain refrigeration and served in either a Styrofoam or pulped paper cardboard egg carton.

    • RaoulDook@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I think you have been misinformed. As an American, I can harvest eggs just like the pictured ones from my own backyard on a regular basis.

      They don’t even cost any money, they come out of chicken asses for free.

  • I don’t really know if there are laws about not selling eggs like this. Are there? I understood the practice of washing and sterilizing eggs came about as a marketting thing, b/c Americans tend to buy based on superficial appearance, and washed eggs sold better.

    Is egg-washing mandated?

    • JasSmith@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      About 60 percent of the eggs sold in the United States come from processors who participate in USDA’s grading service, voluntarily paying to have their eggs graded so the eggs can display a “USDA Grade A” or “AA” shield on their cartons. The grade is based on qualities that can be observed in the shell, yolk, and egg white when the egg is inspected with lights and other specialized equipment. Specifics on egg-grading criteria can be found here.

      Egg processors who participate are required to spray-wash their eggs with warm water and use a sanitizing rinse and air-drying techniques specified by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

      https://tellus.ars.usda.gov/stories/articles/how-we-store-our-eggs-and-why

      FYI multiple studies have found that there is no safety benefit to washing. It just looks nicer, and people think it’s safer.

    • Mr_Blott@lemmy.worldOP
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      11 months ago

      Well obviously if you’re an actual chicken, it won’t. How was your cage growing up?

  • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    In the US, there’s a concern for salmonella or other bacteria and viruses. Factory egg farming is a horror show in regards to overcrowding and hygiene. Sick birds are crammed in with healthy laying birds, and washing the eggs is one of the safest ways to prevent contamination.

    It does increase the permeability of the shell, decreasing shelf life and requiring refrigeration.

    If your eggs looked like this in the USA, there’s a small but non-zero chance that you’ll shit yourself to death. Probably not, but it’s scary enough.

    We could improve factory farming regulations so it’s not a like a Cronenberg movie, but then eggs would be more expensive. And even if we did, and stopped washing our eggs, Americans would still want them to look clean and would still keep them in the fridge because we’ve been conditioned to expect to die on the toilet covered in wet feces if we see bird poop on the eggs.

    • echo64@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Fwiw, the eggs wouldn’t have to be more expensive, the eggs cost what the market will pay.

      The only change is that the people profiting from your poor food conditions will profit slightly less.

      This is a common lie they tell everyone.

    • Justin@lemmy.jlh.name
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      11 months ago

      Keeping unwashed eggs in the fridge at home helps them last longer, as long as you don’t leave them out to sweat.

      But yeah here in Sweden, we rarely ever get salmonella recalls since the chickens aren’t strapped to a box here.

  • Schmoo@slrpnk.net
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    11 months ago

    Am american and this: eggs is what I have in my fridge right now. Rural living win.

    • NucleusAdumbens@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Wait, why fridge? I thought they last at room temp if they still have the chicken butt juice. Do they last longer cold?

      • wesley@yall.theatl.social
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        11 months ago

        I still put farm fresh eggs in my fridge because it’s just a lot more convenient to store eggs in the fridge than on my counter where I have more limited space

          • wesley@yall.theatl.social
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            11 months ago

            My fridge is designed to store food and has multiple shelves and drawers. My counters are a flat surface area and I’d rather keep them clear for active uses like cutting, prepping, etc.

            There are also appliances competing for space on the counter like coffee machines

            I guess there’s the pantry but it’s also just that I’m used to keeping them in the fridge and it’s not like it hurts them to go in the fridge.

            Anyway, point is it’s really not that weird to keep them in the fridge

      • Schmoo@slrpnk.net
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        11 months ago

        Yeah I suppose I could store them at room temp, but I figure they last longer in the fridge and I’m not really hurting for space.

  • BetaBlake@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I know hardy har har such banter, but for real we also have unwashed eggs, and plenty of Americans have chicken’s, I currently have 80 in my backyard and am overflowing with eggs on my countertops.

    Your jokes will hit harder if they come from a place of reality and not only information gained from reddit and social media posts.

    • MyDearWatson616@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      There are Americans who own chickens and Americans who’ve never touched one. It’s a big country. This post applies mostly to city folk.

    • BigBenis@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I think that’s a fair point. However in this case, as an American I personally know people here who are like this.

      A friend of mine will go to the store and buy more eggs because he refuses to eat the fresh eggs I keep on my counter.

      Edit: He also keeps an ice chest in his trunk to keep them in during the 20 minute drive from the store…