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01.06.2019 - Foods

Campylobacter in Chicken Eggs – Opinion of the BfR

Fresh poultry meat is the most significant source of human Campylobacter infections. However, chicken eggs can also transmit Campylobacter to humans, particularly if they are visibly contaminated with chicken feces. However, the risk of infection from eggs can be minimized through hygiene measures.

A cultural detection of Campylobacter in eggs contaminated with chicken feces is 2.87 times more likely than in clean eggs. Drying the chicken feces on the eggshell is expected to reduce the drying-sensitive Campylobacter. This contrasts with the risk posed by other bacteria (e.g., Salmonella), which can multiply inside the egg after penetrating the eggshell if the yolk membrane has aged and the bacteria can enter the yolk and/or feed on yolk components in the egg white.

There is little data on the prevalence of Campylobacter on chicken eggs in Germany. The prevalences calculated by the BfR based on communications from states regarding conducted examinations of sample plans ranged from 0 to 8.1% (see Table 1 of the BfR statement).

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Source: Statement No. 011/2018 of the BfR from March 11, 2018, www.bfr.bund.de