How to Identify Cancer Eggs

Crack the eggs and check the smell of the eggs. This is the simplest way to identify a cancerous egg. The rotten eggs will have a pungent and foul smell when the eggs are broken. If you smell sulfur as soon as you crack an egg (probably before), throw the egg away. ^[11]

• Rotten eggs will smell bad, even when raw or cooked. ^[12]

Crack the eggs into a small plate and observe the colors. The color of the yolk will change depending on the hen’s diet, so if the yolk is golden or orange it won’t affect the freshness of the egg. Instead, pay attention to egg whites. If it turns pink, green, or iridescent, it means the egg has been poisoned and is inedible. ^[13] If you see black or green spots inside, it means the eggs have mold, throw them away. ^[14]

• If the yolk of a cooked egg shows a green circle, this means you have overcooked it or cooked it in water with a high iron content. You can still eat eggs. ^[15]
• If there is a spot of blood or flesh inside, the egg is safe, the egg is not poisoned or cancerous, you can still eat the egg. Blood spots appear due to broken blood vessels when the eggs are formed, this does not affect the freshness of the eggs. ^[16]

Check the “sale date” on the package. The sell-by date is printed as “not recommended for sale after date” or “EXP”. The longest period is 30 days after the eggs are packaged. ^[17] Eggs that are refrigerated and not broken or cracked can be used at least 1 month after the sell-by date. ^[18]

• In the US, sales dates are printed in the month/day format. Therefore, eggs labeled 03/15 must be sold by March 15.
• “Sold-by” refers to the last date the eggs are available for sale in public. Eggs should be removed from the shelf after that date. ^[19] This does not mean that the eggs are cancerous or rotten after that date.

Check the “best by date” expiration date on the package. This expiration date is printed as “use by date”, “use by date” or “best by date”. The shelf life lasts about 45 days after the eggs are packaged. ^[20] Use up eggs within 2 weeks of best by date. ^[21]

• “Best by” refers to the period of time when eggs are freshest, with the best texture, flavor, texture and good properties. ^[22] This does not mean that the eggs are cancerous or rotten after this date.

Use a 3-digit code that provides the date the eggs were packed. Under federal law (some states require it, some states prohibit it), it’s not mandatory to have a sell-by or best-by date printed on the packaging, but most cartons of eggs are printed with the packing date. This date is usually printed as a 3-digit code according to the Julian calendar. If an egg is packaged January 1, it will be labeled 001, packaged October 15 will be labeled 288, packaged December 31 will be labeled 265. ^[23]

• Find the Julian date on the bottom of the box. You’ll see a typed code (a string of numbers that starts with the letter P) that gives the date the eggs were packed, right next to that you’ll see the Julian code. ^[24]
• The European Union also requires the packing date to be printed on the egg cartons. Even if eggs are retailed and not packaged in a cardboard box, consumers should still be informed. ^[25]

If you take an egg out of the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours, you should throw it away. Once the eggs have cooled in the refrigerator, the temperature should always be maintained. A cold egg placed in a warmer environment will cause the egg to release moisture, allowing bacteria to grow on the outside of the egg. Because the eggshell is thin and porous, bacteria can get inside and infect the egg. ^[26]

• To avoid heat fluctuations, place eggs in the coldest part of the refrigerator, “no” in the door. Because the temperature will fluctuate when opening and closing the door of the refrigerator, and may cause the egg to give off steam. ^[27]
• If the eggs are unwashed and at room temperature, you don’t necessarily need to refrigerate them. In many countries, including European countries, they store eggs at room temperature. ^[28] This is safe because hens are vaccinated with Salmonella before laying eggs. ^[29]