Are Runny Eggs Really A Risk To Children?

When you were a kid, did your mother ever tell you not to eat any raw cookie dough or raw brownie batter? And when you ask why, you'd get the same answer: "There's raw eggs in it. You can get salmonella!" As a kid, you didn't know what salmonella is, and quite frankly, you didn't care — it stood in the way of you eating spoonfuls of cookie dough in front of the TV. But maybe your mother had a point about that younger version of you avoiding raw eggs.

While you may not hear of salmonella outbreaks on the news very often, to say that salmonella isn't something to keep in mind wouldn't be true. As detailed by the United States Department of Agriculture, the CDC estimates that the illness is responsible for around 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths per year. While a functioning adult with a working and developed immune system may not be too concerned about consuming something with a raw egg (though it's advised you don't), younger family members may not be so fortunate. Children under five are said to be the most at-risk when it comes to getting salmonella from undercooked or raw foods, making it vital that food safety is at the top of every parent's nutritional concern for their children.

But what would happen if you saw a child eating a particularly runny egg? Are they in any danger?

While ordering a plate of sunny-side-up eggs and bacon at your local diner, you probably don't think twice about the health consequences. You'd be right, considering that more often than not, absolutely nothing will happen if you eat runny or sunny-side-up eggs. However, according to the USDA, young children should avoid being fed runny or undercooked eggs to avoid a higher risk of getting salmonella. These also include any sort of "health shakes" that may contain raw eggs, Hollandaise sauce, or any homemade dairy products with raw eggs. It's not just young children who should avoid raw eggs or raw egg-based products. Also included are older people, pregnant women, and people with compromised or weakened immune systems. If you fall into these categories, avoiding raw eggs or eggs that may have runny yolks altogether is a good idea.

This doesn't mean that young children can't enjoy the nutritional benefits of eggs. So long as the eggs are solid, such as hard-boiled and chopped into small pieces or scrambled, even the youngest of children can enjoy eggs for breakfast or lunch until they are old enough to consume runny eggs. Just make sure they are fully cooked before you serve them.

Let's say that your young child accidentally ate an egg that may have been slightly undercooked. A little bit later, they seem to be feeling under the weather. How can you tell salmonella apart from any other common and treatable cold, if there are any differences?

Very common symptoms of salmonella can include chills, vomiting, headaches, nausea, stomach cramps, and fever. Although these sound very similar to other sicknesses, such as the common stomach bug or an average common cold, what's important is that you must remember when these symptoms began to show themselves. If the symptoms show up following a certain experience involving food, such as visiting a poor-quality restaurant, you may have to consult your family doctor just to be on the safe side.

The good news, however, is that salmonella is easily curable, provided there is a prompt medical intervention. Cases of salmonella are not known to be fatal (although care must be taken if the inflicted has a compromised immune system) and can easily be treated. One major treatment for salmonella is to ensure that the patient, child or adult, remains hydrated, as this will help keep the body energized and manage the symptoms.

Although this article is not meant to fearmonger you, it's simply a reminder to ensure that food safety is always kept in mind around young children.