can you eat raw eggs

You technically can eat raw eggs, but unpasteurized raw eggs are not considered safe because they can carry Salmonella and cause food poisoning, so most health agencies recommend avoiding them unless they’re pasteurized and handled carefully.

Quick scoop

• Unpasteurized raw eggs : Not recommended due to a small but real risk of Salmonella infection, which can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and vomiting.

• Pasteurized eggs : These have been heat-treated to kill harmful bacteria and are considered safe to use in raw forms (e.g., some dressings, desserts), though many experts still prefer eggs to be cooked when possible.

• Nutritional angle : Raw eggs don’t offer extra nutrition over cooked eggs; in fact, protein and biotin are absorbed better from cooked eggs.

Health risks to know

• Risk level: Estimates suggest only a small fraction of eggs carry Salmonella, but when infection occurs it can be severe, especially for vulnerable people.

• Higher-risk groups: Pregnant people, young children, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system should avoid raw or undercooked eggs entirely.

• Symptoms timeline: Illness often appears 1–3 days after exposure, but can range from 20 minutes up to several weeks.

If you still want to eat them

If someone chooses to consume raw or lightly cooked eggs (for example in homemade mayo, hollandaise, tiramisu, or protein drinks), food-safety advice usually includes:

1. Use pasteurized eggs or egg products for any recipe that stays raw.
2. Keep eggs refrigerated at or below 40°F (4°C).
3. Avoid eggs that are cracked, dirty, or past their date.
4. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces well after contact with raw egg.

Forums and “real people” experiences

Online discussions and forums often show people bragging they drink raw eggs daily with no problems, while others share stories of nasty bouts of diarrhea and regret after eating undercooked or raw eggs.

These experiences highlight that many get away with it, but a few get very sick – which is exactly why experts frame it as a preventable risk rather than something to copy.

Bottom line

• For most people, cooked eggs are the safest way to enjoy all the nutrition with minimal risk.

• If a recipe truly needs raw egg, choose pasteurized eggs , store and handle them properly, and avoid raw egg entirely if you’re in a higher-risk group.

Meta description: Wondering “can you eat raw eggs”? Learn the real safety risks, what experts say about Salmonella, when pasteurized eggs are safer, and how forums and trends stack up against medical advice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.