Buy Organic Eggs to Avoid Salmonella Poisoning? Maybe Not

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"were more likely to contain chemical contaminants, probably from the soil in fields where the hens were allowed to graze."
If the hens were grazing on such field then it is not organic farming. To graze animals for organic food you need to test and certify that the land you use for grazing has been organic for at least few years (free from any pollutants ant toxins). It also includes the floor inside of the barn. If the environment is kept clean and free from rodents and other birds the risk is also minimal. Unfortunatelly you cannot control in what conditions organic eggs are transported to the shops. During the transport they can get contaminated.
So the best id to buy organic eggs from your local farm you know well. Difficult to do in teh city. obviously.

Peter 11:54AM October 05, 2012

Kevin, your a piece of sh*t and you know that urself. GMOs are good? Give us insulin? LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG ROOOOOOOOOOFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Did you know that alcohol is good, especially in higher doses; it gives us creativity and grows our brain-cells, that is why humans are so creative and smart. Also, if you look into the sun for 10 hours straight, you will become super sayan.

Chris of NY 2:34PM June 12, 2012

where are your sources? do you have any morals? or perhaps you really are that naive believing those corporate funded studies. I hope people reading this article are all smart enough to know the difference between a feces, hormone shot infested and over crowded line of un-cared bird cages vs a personable farmer that actually cares about what he's putting on our plates. Cage free: more contaminants? more bacteria? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

Chris of NY 2:26PM June 12, 2012

Martin Wiedmann, an associate professor of food microbiology at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. has not read any research that indicates that "organic" eggs have less salmonella. Does not mean that it does not exist.
I've found several sources where they refer to research which indicates that in fact organic eggs HAVE LESS salmonella infections.
http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/are-organic-eggs-less-likely-to-contain-salmonella/
http://roostershamblin.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/salmonella-in-eggs/
Studies in the USA seem to say the opposite? Who do I believe? I think there simply has not been enough research. But I read somewhere that Sweden who is certified salmonella free did that without using anti-biotics.
http://www.svenskfagel.se/?p=2216

Bas Horneman of MO 11:42AM August 31, 2010

I buy Organic Eggs, Milk, and everything else I can get my hands on that's Organic! Further, I Despise Factory Farms such as the Iowa Egg farms where there was a recent Salmonella outbreak. These Factory Farms are Inhumane and crowd chickens into pens for their entire lives. As chicks, the tips of their peaks are cruelly cut off and are doomed to never run and breath fresh outdoor air as nature intended. Further, organic chickens are fed organic food without chemicals.

HopeforAmerica of WA 9:00PM August 30, 2010

I also have chickens at home that have the run of the yard along with the dogs and whatever wild critters happen by. All eggs must be handled as they are contaminated and cooked properly then there will be no problem. Eating raw eggs, meat or fish is just inviting a problem solved a long time ago with fire. Cook your food!!
For some reason people think they can ignore basic prevention like shots, hand washing and cooking food then blame someone when something happens. This stuff has been around longer than humanity and we know cooking food kills the bad stuff.

John Bush of GA 4:31PM August 28, 2010

I have my own hens. Salmonella is not a big deal to most people it mostly is dangerous to small children and people with compromised Immune systems. Salmonella is every where, you can get it from feeding the birds too as they leave the birds dropping all around the feeding area. You need to screen wild birds out of your chicken coop. The best thing is stay fit and healthy and cook your eggs well. You body is ready to cope with salmonella most likely. I have lived on a farm 25 years and never been sick from close contact with animals or animal waste.

Beth Boyle of NY 12:31PM August 27, 2010

Actually there IS evidence that organic eggs are less likely to have salmonella, which you would have found with a brief web search. A recent large scale British study found that commercial flocks had a 25% salmonella contamination rate, while organic flocks had a 5% rate. So, no, you cannot completely eliminate salmonella risk by buying organic -- but you CAN reduce it to one-fifth of the risk with commercial eggs.

Jessica of NY 12:15PM August 27, 2010

I try to buy certain things organic, local and/or free-range but not when it comes to eggs anymore. Since I buy for my young children and aging parents and we eat a lot of over easy eggs and raw cookie dough it only makes sense to buy the safest option, pasteurized shell eggs. I heard about this company outside of Chicago on the NBC Today show I think and then found them in my local store. Try to find out if your local supermarket carries these eggs. If not, put in a request. I Googled the company and here is the website www.safeeggs.com. And, so far we haven't noticed a difference in taste, the quality actually seems to be better/fresher!

Josephine of IL 1:49PM August 26, 2010

I'm sure you all must know that cage free may be a worse commercial way to grow chickens than the caged way. I don't like either so only eat eggs from my local farmers and ranchers (I live in the country). As salmonella is killed by heat, cook your eggs.

Helen Saul of AZ 9:17AM August 26, 2010