FOOD NEWS
Should You Throw Out Eggs With Brown Spots
On Them?
By Cynthia Anaya
As you may have guessed, the brown, reddish-brown, or red spots you may notice on an egg white or yolk are blood. These marks form naturally when tiny blood vessels rupture in a hen's ovaries during the egg formation process.
An egg with a blood spot may look unappetizing, but it's perfectly safe to eat one if you cook it properly (irrespective of whether you eat it directly or use it for baking); you can also remove the spot with a knife. However, throw the egg out if the entire egg white has a pink tint, as a "pink or pearly egg white indicates spoilage due to Pseudomonas bacteria," per USDA.
Blood spots on grocery store eggs aren't very common, as manufacturers use a bright light to examine the embryo without removing the shell. This process, known as candling, lets manufacturers detect blood spots, cracks, and other imperfections, and they typically throw the egg away if they find one.