Reasons Japanese Like To Eat Crude Eggs

Illustration of eating meat with raw eggs (Unseed Japan)

JAKARTA - For many people, eggs are usually served in various ways, such as boiled, fried with a complete egg yolk side, or processed into anX.

Some people may also like to eat eggs with different levels of maturity, ranging from those that are too mature, perfect cooked, half cooked, to even raw.

However, there is one typical habit in Japanese society that is different. On average, Japanese people like to eat raw eggs, something that is rarely found in other countries.

Reported by VOI from the From Japan page on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, eating raw eggs has become a daily habit for the Japanese people.

One of the popular ways to enjoy it is to put raw eggs on warm rice, add it with Japanese soy sauce (shoyu), then mix it.

Although many find this habit strange and risky because it can cause food poisoning due to Salmonella bacteria, it turns out that there is a safe way to enjoy raw eggs in Japan.

Then, why do Japanese people love raw eggs so much?

Eggs are known to be rich in nutrients, such as protein, potassium, vitamins A, D, B, DHA, omega 3, lutein, and iron that is good for the body. Based on research, cooking egg yolks can make it easier for the body to absorb protein, but this also reduces the vitamin content of A, D, and B by 20-30%.

Therefore, raw eggs are considered to have better nutritional content than cooked eggs. This is the reason why Japanese people prefer raw eggs as part of their diet.

Even though raw eggs are richer in nutrients, the risk of being infected with Salmonella bacteria still exists. However, Japanese people still enjoy raw eggs, because they have very high production standards and strict quality supervision.

After the eggs are harvested, the eggs will be washed, selected, and packed with advanced machines that ensure the yellow position of the eggs does not touch the shells. This thorough cleaning process ensures that the eggs are free from dirt and bacteria.

In fact, the machine will also check for cracks or bloodstains in the egg. Eggs that do not meet this standard will not be sold. If sold, it will be labeled which suggests not to be eaten rawly.

In Japan, eating raw eggs has become part of their culinary culture. Many Japanese people believe that raw eggs are beneficial for health. Some foreigners who live long enough in Japan even adopt this habit and enjoy raw eggs while living there.

Here are some popular dishes that use raw eggs:

- Katamata Udon: Hot Udon served with raw eggs.

- Sukiyaki: Raw eggs are used to relieve heat on meat and vegetables, so they don't burn when eaten, by dipging meat and vegetables into the shaken raw eggs.

- Come on: Sasimi raw meat usually made from beef or horse. Marike is peppered with soy sauce, then added raw egg yolks and vegetable slices.

- Tamago Kakemen: A very popular raw egg dish in Japan, especially for breakfast. Raw eggs are placed over hot rice, then given soy sauce and stirred evenly.

These foods are not just dishes, but also part of a rooted eating culture in Japanese society.

With strict quality supervision and a safe way of processing raw eggs, this habit is maintained and enjoyed by many people, both those living in Japan and visitors from abroad.