Many people are accustomed to breaking raw eggs directly into drinks and consuming them together. It is said to be a good way to build muscle, but in fact, raw eggs are not suitable for direct consumption, as this can have adverse effects on the body.
An egg is composed of three parts: the yolk, the albumen, and the shell. It is rich in protein and contains a large amount of water. In a freshly laid egg, the albumen and the shell membrane adhere tightly to each other. As the storage time increases, the shell membrane begins to separate from the shell at the larger end, forming an air chamber (commonly known as a "空头," or空头). As the moisture inside the egg evaporates, the air chamber gradually enlarges. The size of this air chamber can be used to measure the freshness of the egg. The shell of an egg has many pores, with more at the larger end. On a newly laid egg, there is a film on the outside of the shell. When this film is not intact, microorganisms from the outside can enter the egg through these pores. The most common microorganism on the outside of the shell is Salmonella, which mainly comes from contamination when the egg is laid by the bird, but it can also come from contamination during storage and transportation. Therefore, eggs are often contaminated with bacteria. Bacteria that enter the egg will multiply, causing the contents of the egg to spoil and deteriorate. This degree of spoilage is generally not noticeable from the outside of the shell. Therefore, when someone believes that eating raw eggs, duck eggs, etc., allows for better absorption of protein nutrients, if they actually eat these spoiled or stale eggs, they are very likely to be infected with Salmonella, leading to food poisoning.
When boiling or scrambling eggs and duck eggs, if they are not cooked thoroughly, the bacteria inside the egg are not completely killed, which can potentially cause food poisoning. To prevent illness from eating eggs, it is not only necessary to clean the outside of the eggshell thoroughly, but also to ensure they are fully cooked or well-done before consumption.