Are You Wiping Your Eggs Before Storing Them? Read This First.

Recently, a viral photo of Aliza Bigjo, a resident of Ofakim, has been circulating online. In it, she is seen sitting at home with a pack of wet wipes, opening a carton of eggs and wiping them one by one. Many viewers responded to the video, with some saying they do the same—not necessarily with wipes, but that they clean their eggs before placing them in the fridge.

“When I open the egg carton and see chicken droppings or feather remnants, it disgusts me. I wouldn’t put that in the fridge, so I clean them with a general-purpose wipe that contains vinegar,” she says in the video. “Even my grandchildren say, ‘Grandma, look, there’s poop.’ Maybe using a cloth and water is better. Anyway, the wipes are handy on the table, within reach, so I use them spontaneously.”

Her daughter filmed her and shared the clip, which, as mentioned, received numerous reactions. Some viewers agreed with her, while others claimed they don’t have the time. “My daughter told me there’s no one else like me doing this. I didn’t know it could be bad and introduce bacteria,” Aliza recounts.

An investigation by the Mako website revealed concerning findings. “Washing might damage the eggshell and allow salmonella bacteria, common in poultry intestines and droppings, to penetrate the egg,” said Maayan Barnea Zohar, Ph.D. in Biochemistry of Food Science and Nutrition at the Davidson Institute.

According to her, these bacteria cause salmonellosis in humans, which manifests as diarrhea, stomach cramps, high fever, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. “Unlike fruit skins, an eggshell is much more delicate and permeable, allowing chick growth inside. If there is coarse dirt, it can be gently scraped off with a knife or washed right before cooking. In most cases, bacteria won’t have enough time to thrive inside in the period between washing the egg and using it,” she adds.

Furthermore, it is recommended to encourage the consumption of eggs, which are nutritious and healthy. To continue eating them safely, buy eggs only from air-conditioned stores or markets, packaged in single-use, closed cartons. At home, remove them from the packaging, discard the carton, and store the eggs in a designated container. After handling eggs, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, and clean any utensils and surfaces that came into contact with raw eggs to prevent the transfer of bacteria to other foods. The Ministry of Health advises: “If you plan to cook the egg with the shell for an extended period, like in a cholent, you can wash the egg right before use, ensuring there isn’t enough time for bacteria to develop.”

And in the end, the key message is simple: eggs are safe and healthy to enjoy—just handle them correctly, skip the pre-fridge washing, and let smart handling habits keep your kitchen protected.