Weird egg

[Jenise]

No, I'm not talking about Larry (rim shot), but an egg I cracked yesterday. Regular looking yolk but the white part was actually pink and runny like water. Never seen anything like it. Tossed it of course, but anyone know what would cause something like that? Nothing else in there unusual.

[Robin Garr]

Probably a wise decision.

Pink or pearly egg white (albumen) indicates spoilage due to Pseudomonas bacteria.

https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Is-the-a ... ood-safety

I'm not only spoiled, I'm rotten to the core.

[Jenise]

Thanks, Robin. I wish it provided some guidance on where that bacteria comes from, and what that indicates about the other 11 eggs from the same farm even if not discolored. Any thoughts there?

[Robin Garr]

Jenise, I'm afraid I've reached the end of my knowledge here, and I didn't find a lot more in another quick look online.

This excerpt from a scholarly report kind of put me off my feed, though.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... uit%20like.

Also this icky bit ...

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. The color of yolk varies in shades of yellow depending upon the diet of the hen.

https://www.siphidaho.org/env/pdf/Shell ... _Table.pdf

And finally, although I've lost the link, I did read that if one egg in a bunch has pseudomonas contamination, it's quite possible that others in the batch have it too but it hasn't developed the blue whites yet.

Bottom line, if it were me, I'd pitch the eggs. And if it came from a local farm, I'd consider taking them back and letting the farmer know.

[Jenise]

I am taking them back and DID let the farmer know.

I am taking them back and DID let the farmer know.

How did the farmer react?

[Jenise]

Initially, she was fine, just said help yourself to another dozen. Thing is, her eggs come from several sources in the county--she's just got the best farm stand with refrigeration, so she resells from several sources, many of whom re-use/recycle cartons from various sources. So when I explained that the issue isn't just one bad egg but possibly a contaminated supplier, she got agitated--I don't think they know which eggs come from where. The only ID is that this supplier has some of the chickens who lay green eggs so three or four in every carton are green (which I seek out), where others are brown only are half brown/half white.

One of my chickens (when I raised them) was a araucana that laid green eggs.

A clue, though. I wonder if the pseudomonas was carried on a recycled carton and somehow got into your egg.

One of my grocery deals today was two dozen free-range large brown and blue eggs for 99 cents per dozen (reg. $7). Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. I also see deviled eggs and HB eggs in my future because I have about 4 dozen eggs.

And a gallon of milk for 25 cents (they need space for some kind of milk promo starting tomorrow).

I cooked my first egg from the free-range eggs I bought below. I expected darker yolks, but what a surprise when the yolk was this color:

egg color.jpg

[Robin Garr]

It's a good thing, Larry. It shows that they've been dining nutriciously on bugs, not just commercial feed or worse.

I've never seen one that orangish red. Lots of beta carotene, I guess.

[Jenise]

I've seen those a few times in my life, really impressive!