Before the hunt . . .

Wash your hands thoroughly before handling eggs at every preparation step, including cooking, cooling, dyeing, and hiding.

Only use eggs that have been refrigerated and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.

When cooking, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add water to at least one inch above the eggs. Cover the pan, bring the water to a boil, and carefully remove the pan from the heat. Let the eggs stand (18 minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium). Immediately run cold water over the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator where they can air-dry.

When decorating, be sure to use food grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring, and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.

Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs refrigerated until just before the hunt. Keep them fully chilled by storing them on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door.

Consider buying one set of eggs for decorating only and another set for eating.

During the hunt . . .

Hide the eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets, and other potential sources of bacteria.

To prevent bacterial growth, don't let eggs sit in hiding places for more than 2 hours.

After the hunt . . .

Discard any eggs that were cracked, dirty, or that children didn't find within 2 hours.

Place the eggs back in the refrigerator until it's chow time!

If you have questions or concerns about food safety, contact:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline at (800) 535-4555 or (202) 720-3333 (Washington, DC area). The TTY number for the hearing impaired is
(800) 256-7072.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Information Line at (888) SAFE FOOD.

The Fight BAC!® Web site at: www.fightbac.org
If you have questions or concerns about eggs, contact:

The American Egg Board (AEB) at www.aeb.org

The Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) at www.enc-online.org

The Partnership for Food Safety Education
655 15th St NW 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

---

©Copyright 2009, Big Y Foods, Inc., Springfield, MA, (413) 784.0600
Artwork is for display purposes only and does not necessarily reflect specific items. Not responsible for typographical errors.