I've just had a thought about bird flu in our food. Can you read this and give your thoughts please??

Question

Right, the food standards agency say
"For people, the risk of catching the [bird flu] are from being in close contact with live poultry that have the disease, and not through eating cooked poultry or eggs."
But, what about those drinks with raw egg in? I can't remember its name, but there are quite a few.
So, is it plausible to think that if I have a drink containing raw egg, then I have an increased chance of catching avian influenza if it entered our shops?
Your thoughts please?


http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/feb/avianflu

Answer 1

i have no worries whatsoever. as long as food is cooked properly (as this should be with all food) the bacteria is killed. for me i'm no more worried than salmonella poisoning. people seem to go so over the top about these things!!

Answer 2

Any person eating or drinking anything with a raw egg in it are very, very foolish. Such things as Cesar salad dressing, that previously had raw egg in it, were changed many years ago when it was discovered that raw eggs were a major source of salmonella. The use of raw eggs in anything not cooked is already highly discouraged.

The protein drinks you appear to be speaking of were usually homemade by adding the egg to protein powder. Some folks still do this, generally bodybuilders, and take their chances. Some will end up in hospital, some just get milder cases and end up in bed and some actually get away with using raw eggs, but keep themselves at risk. Even the bodybuilding magazines of the 1990s were sporting articles to warn of the danger.

A person has a much higher chance to contract salmonella than bird flu if they eat raw eggs, but because bird flu can be very deadly, that just makes it all the more important to avoid raw eggs or raw egg products.

Answer 3

As the main advice from scientists is to thoroughly cook any poultry product before you consume it. This means that raw egg in might also pose a danger for your health. However, if you live in a Western country the chances of you finding a diseased bird are still very slim. Western countries have so far been able to cope with the existing cases quite well. Just keep informed and don't worry much yet.

Websites such as http://www.bird-flu-center.com are quite useful

Answer 4

Viruses have to have a living host, so the risk comes from being around live chickens. I doubt very seriously if you can get bird flu from eating raw egg, unless you take the egg directly from the chicken. It's more likely you get could salmonella or some other bacterial infection; bacteria don't have to have a living host. There would be more risk of that if you prepare the drink yourself. If the egg nog comes from a store, they probably put something in it to lower of the risk of salmonella, or maybe they give the laying chickens anitibiotics. If most people who bought their egg nog got sick, the companies would go out of business because they run out of money to pay their lawyers. Also, make sure you're not drinking it after the expiration date.

Answer 5

Yes, absolutely, you can get bird flu from eating raw eggs! If the bird is infected, the egg can be infected.

They say that well cooked poultry and eggs are safe, but there are some things that don’t always get mentioned.

If the meat is undercooked, you will get infected. Our saliva and gastric juices do NOT kill H5N1 virus.

Also if the meat is infected while you’re cooking your hands, counter tops, cutting boards, knives, etc get contaminated.

It’s really a serious issue. People do get infected and at this point over 80% of people who get the disease die.

Answer 6

Hey you, u can surely take up the drink with raw egg. Eggs are usually sterile. Of course eating poultry which is not properly cooked will definately lead to high risk. Trust me, this risk wont b only to you but to all the human race.

Answer 7

I'd worry more about salmonella than about bird flu. You might be right, tho.

When I was a kid, my Mom made me drink a raw egg beat with milk, vanilla and sugar, every single night before I went to bed. We didn't know about salmonella and raw egg dangers back then. I only drink commercially made egg nog now.

Answer 8

Fabiola de Freitas is the Team Leader, Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Team,LSD,Office of Mission Support, Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations room S-101K New York , NY 10017, USA E-mail: [e-mail] ask them. Eggnog = 1 in 5 chance of salmonella

Answer 9

Always buy eggs with the stamp on them to let u know they are quality approved. That means they have been properly screened for all possible viruses etc.

As for pre made products wth raw eggs most use pasturised eggs, which again are screened etc. and all have to use eggs from reputable suppliers who have all checks in place, so do not worry

Hope this helps ease your mind

Answer 10

bird flu is for birds. We just had a news anouncement telling everyone that bird flu is only for birds. Now your working with birds or poultry. If you have a problem with that, than its something completely different. BIRD FLU is for BIRDS ONLY.

Answer 11

probz will get it eating raw egg lol