EXPERTS SOUND ALARM OVER BOILING EGGS WITH RICE, WARN OF POSSIBLE FOOD CONTAMINATION

EXPERTS SOUND ALARM OVER BOILING EGGS WITH RICE, WARN OF POSSIBLE FOOD CONTAMINATION

Registered dietitian-nutritionists have advised Nigerians against cooking unpeeled eggs and rice together in the same pot, warning that the practice could increase the risk of cross-contamination if contaminants present on eggshells get into the rice.

The experts explained that eggshells may carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, particularly because eggs can come into contact with poultry droppings and other contaminants before reaching consumers.

According to the nutritionists, although proper cooking can destroy harmful bacteria, the period before food and cooking water reach sufficiently high temperatures may provide an opportunity for contaminants to spread within the cooking environment.

They therefore recommended cooking eggs and rice separately as a safer approach to food preparation.

Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist James Oloyede, a former Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education at the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, explained that cooking the two foods together could create a cross-contamination risk.

“Cooking egg and rice together in the same pot has been found to be a risk factor in cross-contamination of certain bacteria, especially Salmonella, that can be found on the shell of the egg even after washing with the rice that is being cooked,” Oloyede said.

He noted that rice absorbs water during cooking, meaning that if the cooking water becomes contaminated, the rice may come into contact with the contaminants.

“The challenge with rice is that absorption begins to take place the moment you put your rice in the water. When the water begins to warm up, we see the rice grain begin to swell. What makes it swell is the absorption of the water,” he explained.

Oloyede also pointed out that eggshells can crack during cooking. When this happens, portions of the egg may come into contact with the rice, potentially affecting its appearance, taste and odour.

He acknowledged that some people cook eggs and rice together to save time, water, cooking utensils or fuel, particularly amid the rising cost of cooking gas.

However, he maintained that food safety should take precedence over the resources saved by preparing the two foods together.

“The safest way of cooking egg and rice is to boil them separately. That’s the safest way,” he said.

Oloyede further warned that foodborne infections could lead to medical expenses, time away from work and loss of productivity, potentially making the consequences more costly than the fuel or time saved during cooking.

Another registered dietitian-nutritionist, Charles Oguikpe, similarly cautioned against cooking eggs in the same pot with rice.

According to Oguikpe, contaminants on eggshells could potentially be transferred to food during cooking, creating what is known as cross-contamination.

He identified Salmonella and E. coli among bacteria that may be associated with contaminated eggshells and said exposure to harmful bacteria could result in symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhoea and fever. More serious foodborne infections can require medical attention and, in some cases, lead to complications.

Oguikpe explained that some contaminants may originate from poultry droppings and stressed that washing eggshells does not guarantee the complete removal of all microorganisms.

“These contaminants are from poultry droppings from the chickens that lay these eggs. No matter how you wash it, you might not be very sure 100 per cent that it has gone off,” he said.

He consequently advised consumers to cook eggs and rice separately and remove the eggshells before eating the eggs.

The experts' warning comes amid reports of Nigerians adopting the practice of cooking eggs alongside rice as a way of saving cooking time and fuel. Some people also place eggs in containers or nylon before putting them into the cooking pot in an attempt to prevent direct contact between the eggs and rice.

However, the nutritionists maintained that separating the cooking processes remains the more appropriate food-safety measure.

For households that prepare both foods, maintaining good hygiene, handling eggs carefully, cooking food thoroughly and preventing raw or contaminated foods from coming into contact with ready-to-eat meals are important measures for reducing the risk of foodborne illness.

The advice does not mean that eating properly cooked eggs or rice is inherently unsafe. Rather, the experts' concern is specifically about the potential for contamination when unpeeled eggs and rice are cooked together, particularly if an eggshell is contaminated or cracks during preparation.