As of: March 28, 2024, 1:17 p.m
By: Jasmina Deshmeh
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Colorful commercial eggs look pretty, but can pose health risks, as consumer advocates warn. What you need to consider when buying.
Whether plain, marbled or spotted: colorful eggs are part of Easter time. They are currently available in large quantities in the supermarket. But how healthy are boiled eggs actually? Consumer advocates repeatedly warn against the use of questionable dyes. The eggs' shelf life can also be shortened due to damage. What you need to consider when buying eggs and what healthy alternatives are available.
Germ contamination: Colorful eggs can be spoiled
Colorful eggs from the supermarket: delicious Easter snack or more of a health risk? (Symbolic image). © Zoonar/Imago
Since colored eggs from the supermarket are cooked, they are legally considered processed foods, as the
Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety
informs. This means they can be sold longer than fresh eggs. Fresh eggs may be sold a maximum of 21 days after being laid and must have a best-before date of 28 days after being laid. This legal rule does not apply to boiled eggs. Here, the determination of the best-before date is left to the respective provider, according to consumer advocates.
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If the shell of the eggs is damaged, they should also be disposed of before the best-before date has passed. Because the defective shell allows germs to penetrate the egg and cause it to spoil prematurely. This is particularly risky if the cracks in the shell are not immediately visible due to the bright color or pattern. In recent years, deficiencies in colored eggs have repeatedly been identified. This year too, the
Braunschweig/Hannover Food and Veterinary Institute
took samples of colorful eggs. The result: 64 percent were unremarkable, while 10 percent were no longer fit for human consumption, had shell defects or labeling deficiencies.
Colorful eggs: Intense color thanks to controversial dyes
There are also a few things to consider when it comes to dyes. In principle, only dyes that are approved for use in food may be used to dye eggs. As a rule, these are also harmless. But there are also controversial dyes, as the
Hesse Consumer Center
warns. Including:
Quinoline yellow (E104)
Tartrazine (E102)
Yellow orange S (E110)
Azorubine (E122)
Cochineal red A (E124 A)
Some of them fall into the category of azoric dyes, which are suspected of causing hyperactivity and attention disorders in children. In addition, they can lead to pseudo-allergic symptoms on the skin and respiratory tract in people with a corresponding predisposition, as the
Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety
reports. Eggs with an intense color in particular could contain these substances, according to the experts.
Tips when buying brightly colored eggs
Packaged eggs must contain the respective coloring agent with its name and corresponding E number in the list of ingredients. Loose eggs, on the other hand, only have to bear the label “with dye”. If you want to be on the safe side, you should use organic eggs. These may only be colored with natural dyes and treated with natural coatings to protect the color.
Further tips when purchasing:
Pay attention to the best-before date and sufficient lead time
Check the eggshell for cracks and holes
Store the eggs in a cool place at home after purchasing them
Eat loose eggs without a best-before date quickly
Natural dyes on eggs can also be problematic for allergy sufferers. In this case, if possible, dye your eggs yourself using natural coloring made from spinach and beetroot
In some eggs the yolk is greenish-blue in color. This discoloration does not pose a health risk. It occurs when the egg is cooked for more than ten minutes and the iron in the egg yolk reacts with sulfur compounds from the egg white.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.