Are Eggs With Blood Spots Safe to Eat?

Medically Reviewed on 9/1/2022
Eggs With Blood Spots
According to research, it is safe to consume an egg with a blood spot if it is cooked properly.

Yes, it is safe to eat eggs with blood spots if they are cooked properly.

  • Whether eggs have blood spots or not, undercooked or raw eggs, should not be consumed because of the risk of salmonella infection.
  • Eggs with whites appear tinted pink, green, or red; this is a sign they may contain bacteria that can speed up spoilage and may put you at risk of food poisoning.
  • Poor nutrition, such as the lack of proper vitamins and minerals in the hen’s diet, can cause blood spots.
  • These tiny spots do not indicate a fertilized egg. Instead, they are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface during the formation of the egg or by a similar accident in the wall of the oviduct.
  • It is rare to find eggs with blood spots on the market because eggs are tested for abnormality in front of bright lights. Eggs with any abnormalities, such as blood spots, are discarded.

Why are eggs good for you?

Eggs are the healthiest and most nutritious foods that are wonderful for breakfast, meals, or snacks.

Eggs contain:

  • Protein
  • Vitamins A, D, E, and K
  • B vitamins
  • Selenium
  • Phosphorus

Because of their taste and nutritional value, eggs are a global staple of many diets. They can be poached, boiled, or fried or used in cake batters or curries. This versatile delight can simply amp up the taste of any delicacy.

What are the types of blood spots in eggs?

There are two types of spots in an egg:

  1. Spots are due to the presence of small blood vessels trapped in the hen's ovaries or oviduct, a tube through which they lay their eggs. A bit of blood can land on the egg yolk (more common) or within the white (quite uncommon). During the egg-laying process, if the vessel breaks, bleeding occurs in the ovaries and combines with the yolk when the egg exits the follicle (a fluid-filled sac).
  2. The second kind of spot transpires in egg albumin, which means that the ovaries bled after the discharge of the egg. Thus, it connects with the egg white. These areas are called meat spots.

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4 causes blood spots

  1. Stress can cause blood spots in chicken eggs. Stress to the hen may happen during the formation of the egg or due to improper handling.
  2. Rough handling of the eggs after they are laid.
  3. Poor nutrition, such as the lack of proper vitamins and minerals, in the hen’s diet
  4. Age can be a reason. Young hens who just started laying and older hens at the end of their egg-laying period may lay eggs with blood spots.

Do blood spots in eggs indicate the hen's health?

If you have come across any blood or blood spots along with other unusual egg shapes or characteristics, evaluate the hen’s health.

Infrequent odd eggs are completely normal, but ongoing odd-shaped eggs or eggs with weak shells can be an indicator of disease or nutritional deficiency.

If you have picked up farm-fresh eggs from a local producer, you might notice a brownish or reddish spot floating in the egg, which is a meat spot. This is a small tissue torn from the hen when the egg moved through its body.

Like blood spots, they are safe to eat. However, you could discard them.

According to research, it is safe to consume an egg with a blood spot if it is cooked properly.

So, there is no need to panic if you see red spots in an egg.

Medically Reviewed on 9/1/2022
References
Image Source: Getty image

What to Know About Eggs Going Bad. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/what-to-know-about-eggs-going-bad

Blood spot eggs. https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-anatomy/avian-reproductive-female/blood-spot-eggs/