White areas in egg yolk

White areas in egg yolk - Top view of broken raw egg with yellow yolk and white eggshell on white background in light kitchen during cooking process

I cracked open three eggs in a pan and in one of them the yolk looked mottled and it looked like swirly white areas inside the yolk. (I am not referring to the chalaza stringy bit or the germinal disk). I cooked one of them and the yolk started to look a little pink as it cooked. I floated another one before cracking and it sank but slightly stood up but was also mottled when cracked. Does this sound like bacterial growth?

food-safetyeggs


Best Answer

Your instinct to avoid eating them was spot on. As you probably already know, any type of float, even slight, and you're better off chucking them in the bin.

As for the chalaza, it certainly can be more prominent in some eggs but if you see mottled discolouration inside the yolk that's not attached to it, that can indicate:

  • Worming drugs and compounds piperazine, dibutyltin dilaurate and citrate;

  • The anticoccidial drug Nicarbazin;

  • Certain antioxidants such as gallic acid and tannic acid;

  • Feeding hens raw soybean meal;

  • Calcium deficiency in the hens' diet;

  • Thin egg shells;

  • Can be hereditary.

source: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

As for the pink discolouration:

"Pink or iridescent egg white (albumen) indicates spoilage due to Pseudomonas bacteria. Some of these microorganisms—which produce a greenish, fluorescent, water-soluble pigment—are harmful to humans." source: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/egg-products-preparation/shell-eggs-from-farm-to-table/ct_index



Pictures about "White areas in egg yolk"

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Are eggs with white spots in yolk safe to eat?

MYTH: Blood spots in eggs are a sign of fertilization These spots are uncommon and can also be caused by a hen's genetics or vitamin-A deficiency. Fortunately, per the USDA, this blood spot doesn't mean an egg is unsafe to eat, just make sure you're properly cooking it.

Why are there white spots in my egg yolk?

The germ spot is the white spot on the yolk. The non-fertile germ spot contains only the female's cells and looks like a solid white spot. In a fertile egg the germ spot contains both the female and male cells.

Should I remove the chalaza?

It made me wonder: Do you really need to remove the chalaza before baking? You don't have to, but you might want to, depending on what you're baking. The chalaza is safe to eat when cooked. In most cases it doesn't break down during the baking process, so yes, you could bite into it.


Egg Yolk vs. Egg White: What's the Difference?



Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Klaus Nielsen, Klaus Nielsen, SHVETS production, Los Muertos Crew

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