Does Oporto mayonnaise contain raw egg? (the risk of raw eggs)

In this article, we will answer the following question: “Does Oporto mayonnaise contain raw egg?” and discuss the ingredients that commonly compose commercial mayonnaise and the risks of eating mayonnaise that contains raw eggs.

Does Oporto mayonnaise contain raw egg?

Oporto mayonnaise does not contain raw eggs, according to information provided by the company’s website (1). Although the other ingredients composing the Oporto mayonnaise are not known, it is stated that mayonnaise contains eggs and no dairy.

In general, mayonnaise should contain vegetable oil and egg yolks and the food emulsion should be acidified to achieve a pH value of 4.2 or lower to inhibit the growth of Salmonella (2).

Does commercial mayonnaise contain raw eggs?

In the United States, commercial mayonnaise should not contain raw eggs, but rather be made with liquid or frozen pasteurised eggs, following the Code of Federal Regulations (5).

However, in Australia, the production of mayonnaise by a commercial local restaurant using raw eggs is possible and permitted by the country’s regulations.  

The raw eggs should be inspected to ensure they are free from dirt and cracks and they are fresh, prohibiting the use of cracked eggs. The business should then separate egg yolks from egg whites by using a sanitised egg separator and acidified by adding lemon juice or vinegar to a pH value of 4.2 or lower (2).

It is not required by Australian law that the business use pasteurised eggs. However, Oporto affirms that they use only eggs that are not raw in their foods.

What is the composition of commercial mayonnaise?

The composition of commercial mayonnaise may vary depending on the brand and the type of mayonnaise. For instance, traditional mayonnaise contains a higher amount of oil and fewer additives, while light mayonnaise usually contains a greater number of additives, such as gums (4).

Mayonnaise is defined as an emulsified product based on vegetable oil and egg yolks, having a minimum of 65 % oil and 2.5 % acidifier containing acetic acid, preferentially vinegar, in weight. Mayonnaise should also contain lemon juice at 2.5 % in weight or more (3).

Other ingredients that may compose mayonnaise are salt, sugar, acids, including citric acid, seasonings or spices, sequestrants (stabilisers), such as EDTA and crystallisation inhibitors, such as soy lecithin. 

Other FAQs about Mayonnaise that you may be interested in.

How to tell if mayo is bad?

Does mayonnaise go bad?

What are the risks of eating mayonnaise with raw eggs?

The risk of eating mayonnaise that is made with raw eggs is infection by pathogenic bacteria, especially Salmonella, which is related to the cause of several food outbreaks.

Salmonella is a worldwide pathogenic bacteria related to the consumption of eggs, poultry, meats, milk and other foods that are consumed raw or undercooked or that have been contaminated due to poor handling or due to cross-contamination (6).

The incubation period of Salmonella is between 12 and 72 hours and the disease caused by this bacteria, known as Salmonellosis, is manifested by diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, nausea and fever.

Other pathogens that may be present in mayonnaise that is made with raw eggs are Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, among others. 

How to prepare mayonnaise safe from Salmonella?

To prepare mayonnaise safe from Salmonella, you should consider the use of pasteurised eggs. Mayonnaise can be homemade and prepared with raw eggs, however, it is necessary to add enough vinegar or lemon juice to ensure that the pH of the mayonnaise reaches 4.2 or below (2).

In the case of using raw eggs, it is necessary to carefully inspect the eggs and discard any eggs that present crackings, bad odour or discolourations.

Crack the eggs separately one by one in a dish and inspect the appearance of the egg yolk, the colour of both yolk and whites and the odour and discard eggs that do not look fresh or have signs of spoilage (7).

To safely produce a homemade mayonnaise of good quality, use 80.5 g of vegetable oil, 8.5 g of egg yolk, 2.10 g of vinegar, 0.3 g of salt and 5.8 g of water (6). Place water, vinegar and egg yolks in a bowl and slowly add the oil while mixing with a hand mixer or fork till the consistency is achieved (8).

Add salt and spices according to your personal preferences. Consume immediately or refrigerate the mayonnaise.

Conclusions

In this article, we answered the following question: “Does Oporto mayonnaise contain raw egg?” and discussed the ingredients that commonly compose commercial mayonnaise and the risks of eating mayonnaise produced with raw eggs. 

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References

1.-

Oporto [Internet]. Com.au. [cited 2023 Aug 23]. Available from: https://www.oporto.com.au/nutrition-and-allergen

2.-

Gov.au. [cited 2023 Aug 23]. Available from: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/publications/Documents/Safe%20Food%20Australia/STANDARD%203.2.2%20Food%20Safety%20Practices%20and%20General%20Requirements.pdf

3.-

CFR – code of federal regulations title 21. [cited 2023 Aug 23]; Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=169.140

4.-

Izidoro D, Sierakowski MR, Waszczynskyj N, Haminiuk CW, Scheer AD. Sensory evaluation and rheological behavior of commercial mayonnaise. International journal of food engineering. 2007 Apr 2;3(1).

5.-

Erickson JP, Stamer JW, Hayes M, Mckenna DN, Van Alstine LA. An assessment of Escherichia coli O157: H7 contamination risks in commercial mayonnaise from pasteurized eggs and environmental sources, and behavior in low-pH dressings. Journal of Food Protection. 1995 Oct 1;58(10):1059-64.

6.-

Wei SH, Huang AS, Liao YS, Liu YL, Chiou CS. A large outbreak of salmonellosis associated with sandwiches contaminated with multiple bacterial pathogens purchased via an online shopping service. Foodborne pathogens and disease. 2014 Mar 1;11(3):230-3.

7.-

Usda.gov. [cited 2023 Aug 23]. Available from: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/eggs/shell-eggs-farm-table#24

8.-

Anamaria M. The influence of different factors on the quality of mayonnaise. Analele Universităţii Din Oradea, Fascicula: Ecotoxicologie, Zootehnie Şi Tehnologii de Industrie Alimentară. 2019 Jan 1;18:75-83.