Along with arguing over the taste, many holiday revelers debate the safety of drinking eggnog.
The Christmas favorite is traditionally made with raw eggs, cream, milk and sugar to create a rich and creamy treat that can be spiked with bourbon, rum or brandy — or cause some to get sick if not properly made, according to experts.
“Raw eggs are the biggest risk because you have a danger of getting salmonella,” Bill Marler, a food safety litigator, told HuffPost.
The bacteria is one of the leading causes of food poisoning and can result in diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and vomiting 12 to 72 hours after infection and usually lasts four to seven days.
Most people recover on their own but in certain cases, the infection can lead to hospitalization — and even death.
“The most recent estimates indicate that about three out of every 10,000 eggs is positive for salmonella,” Dr. Don Schaffner, a Rutgers University distinguished professor and extension specialist in food science, told HuffPost.
“This means the risk from any individual egg is low, but of course the more eggs you combine, the higher the risk.”
He warns that the most concerning issues with eggnog come from the milk and cream.
“The risks from raw dairy are more well established,” Schaffner said, adding that they can also lead to other bacteria including listeria, e.coli and campylobacter.
“Don’t count on alcohol to kill the bacteria,” declared James E. Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports. “The concentration isn’t high enough to reduce the risk of illness.”
Instead, experts suggest purchasing store-bought eggnog, which is likely to have been pasteurized to kill the bacteria and meet the health safety guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Packaged prepared eggnog is much safer,” Schaffner said. “The pasteurization process is done by a food manufacturing facility that understands how to best process foods to ensure that they are safe.”
But for those who insist on brewing a batch at home, experts recommend specifically buying pasteurized ingredients.
And if you do safely drink up this holiday season, you may be in for a tasty surprise: eggnog also can provide nutrients.
The sweet and creamy drink provides about 4 to 6 grams of protein, between 10% and 20% of the 1,300 mg daily value for calcium and 2 to 6 percent of the 4,700 mg daily value for potassium in a half-cup, according to Consumer Reports.
And if you’re looking for what some consider the best cup of eggnog in the New York City, pop over to Melba’s on 114th Street in Harlem.
