eli5: How is raw egg dangerous to eat (in America at least) but runny egg yolk is perfectly fine?

Question

eli5: How is raw egg dangerous to eat (in America at least) but runny egg yolk is perfectly fine?

In: Biology

Answer 1

The U.S. doesn’t vaccinate their chickens against salmonella. However it’s not a common problem because we also wash the eggs which removes the film on the outside of the egg. Which is why we also refrigerate our eggs.

Now, that film is protective and leaving it on does mean no need to refrigerate, however the film is also more likely to transfer salmonella into the egg itself when its cracked open. Which raises the chance of contamination… which is why Europe vaccinates their chickens.

It all results in similar levels of risk.

Of course the best thing to do would be to wash the eggs AND vaccinate the chickens, but, ¯_(ツ)_/¯