National Egg Day falls on 3rd June and is observed to mark the decades of research and debates regarding nutrient-rich food. Whether it was the simple question of ‘how many eggs can you eat?’ Or are they safe for kids to eat, etc. With the current on-going bird flu cases, many people are concerned about whether eating eggs is safe or not. Over the last month, the H5N1 bird flu has spread to 107 groups of birds (both commercial farms and backyard flocks) across 18 states, affecting nearly 18 million birds. Since the outbreak began in 2022, 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been killed to stop the virus from spreading. To put this in perspective, the U.S. has about 380 million egg-laying chickens and over 9 billion broiler chickens. Is It A Threat To Human Safety? Despite the widespread bird flu in animals, experts say the chance of humans catching the illness is still low. Since March 2024, there have been 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S., with only one death linked to it. Experts emphasize that properly handled, stored, and cooked eggs are safe and won't lead to bird flu infections in people. Nonetheless, the outbreak has raised worries about the virus spreading to humans and has also caused egg prices to jump, leading to a nationwide egg shortage. Recently, an 11-year-old Cambodian kid passed on due to zoonotic transmission of bird flu, this is the fourth confirmed case of human bird flu, and all cases so far have been fatal. However, the cases have not yet caused a food safety threat. The The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that there is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared food. Safe handling and preparation is very important, when it comes to cooking poultry, eggs or any other animal products, one must make sure there is not cross contamination between the raw and cooked food. Safety Tips for Eggs and Other Products The bird flu has also been found in dairy cows. However, experts say pasteurized milk is safe to drink because the heating process kills the virus. Some raw milk products, though, might carry a risk. Raw pet food has also been linked to bird flu illness and deaths in cats. Importantly, bird flu has not been found in chicken or beef for human consumption. Still, experts advise cooking all meat thoroughly to kill any potential virus traces. FDA provides simple steps to lower the risk of illness when it comes to eggs. They suggest choosing pasteurized eggs. When buying and storing eggs, the FDA recommends: Only buying eggs that have been kept refrigerated.Storing eggs at home in a clean refrigerator.Using eggs within 3 weeks of buying them.Refrigerating egg dishes like casseroles and eating them within 3 or 4 days.One expert recommends avoiding cracked eggs or those past their expiration date. They also note that organic eggs are not necessarily safer than non-organic ones, as both follow the same safety rules. Safest Way to Cook Eggs While pasteurized eggs have a lower risk of infection because pasteurization effectively kills viruses, including bird flu, and bacteria. When cooking eggs, FDA officials advise:Washing hands, utensils,, and work surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after touching raw eggs.Cooking eggs until both the yolk and white are firm.Making sure scrambled eggs are fluffy and not runny.Cooking casseroles and other dishes with eggs to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.Serving cooked eggs right away. Don't leave egg dishes out for more than 2 hours.Using an insulated cooler to transport eggs and egg products for picnics or gatherings.Reheating any leftover egg products from the fridge to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.