Egg safety – retailers and distributors

Key messages

Eggs require the same precautions that you would take when preparing chicken, meat, seafood and dairy products.
There are several easy tips to follow to ensure that the eggs you sell are safe.

Eggs need to be handled safely. You need to take the same precautions that you would for chicken, meat, seafood and dairy products.

Eggs must be kept clean, intact and fresh, stored at cool temperatures, and cooked well.

Follow these practical tips to ensure that the eggs you sell stay safe:

Do store eggs in their outer boxes at below 20 °C, until displayed for sale.
Do display eggs in their own cartons, in refrigerated units
Do sell eggs in strict rotation – that is, first in, first out.
Do regularly empty and clean egg storage and display areas.
Do store eggs well away from strong smells to avoid tainting the eggs.
Do not store or display eggs:
- near equipment that can be a source of heat, such as refrigerators
- near motors and fan heaters
- in shop windows or direct sunlight.
Do not use self-serve systems. This is where customers select eggs from a bulk display area into empty packaging.
Do not repeatedly move the same eggs to and from cool conditions. This causes condensation on the shell, which allows bacteria to enter the egg.

The downloadable brochure on this page contains additional information about egg safety.

Reviewed 29 November 2023

Food Safety Unit