Table Egg Production and Consumers Safety: A Review

Abstract

The high demand for poultry products (meat and eggs) has necessitated research into ways of increasing the productivity per bird. Commercial egg producers all over the World have been exploring ways of increasing the number of eggs produced by a hen
and enriching eggs with valuable nutrients that could be very vital to normal growth of the body in addition to those already present in the egg. Such intensive systems of production have often used chemicals (pesticides, antibiotics, feed supplements etc.) which may accumulate in the egg and cause public health hazards. Microbial contamination of eggs in the process of production, handling and marketing has also been of a major public health concern. This paper reviews some of the ways table eggs can get contaminated and become unsafe for human consumption, suggesting some measures for improving consumer\'s safety.

Keywords: Table eggs, contamination, public health

Sahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2006 pp. 21-24