A Nigerian food content creator, Kilani Latifat Omowunmi, popularly known as Potofflavours, has sparked widespread public concern by warning that some roadside egg vendors are boiling eggs with laundry detergent.
The food creator raised the alarm after conducting a personal investigation into how street vendors prepare bulk orders of boiled eggs.
Why Vendors Use Detergent
Available information indicated that vendors allegedly add detergents to their boiling pots to prevent the eggshells from sticking tightly to the whites, making them smooth and fast to peel.
Vendors claim it keeps the shells intact during bulk boiling, while some believe it accelerates the boiling process.
The Serious Health Risks
Health experts and food safety advocates have cautioned that this practice is highly toxic, warning that eggshells are highly porous and contain thousands of microscopic holes.
When boiled in soapy water, chemical surfactants, phosphates, and cleaning agents easily seep through the shell and contaminate the edible part of the egg.
Consuming eggs boiled with detergent, according to health experts, can lead to cute chemical poisoning, nausea, severe stomach cramps, and gastrointestinal upset.
Furthermore, it can lead to long-term damage to vital internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, and stomach lining, due to chronic ingestion of non-food-grade chemicals.
Some consumers have noted that eggs cooked this way carry a subtle, unnatural detergent flavor or aftertaste.
Safe Alternatives for Boiling Eggs
Also Read
Commercial and home cooks do not need hazardous chemicals to achieve perfectly peeled, crack-free eggs.
Safe, standard culinary methods include: Adding a splash of white vinegar or a spoonful of salt to the water makes peeling significantly easier and helps seal minor shell cracks instantly.
Bringing cold eggs closer to room temperature before boiling prevents the thermal shock that causes shells to crack.
Transferring freshly boiled eggs immediately into clean, cold water causes the egg inside to shrink slightly away from the shell, allowing for effortless peeling.
To guarantee safety, consumers are advised to purchase raw eggs and boil them at home whenever possible
[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']