Health experts are warning Nigerians that cooking unwashed eggs and rice together in the same pot could increase the risk of food poisoning.
Registered dietitian-nutritionists have urged Nigerians to stop boiling unpeeled, unwashed eggs and rice together in one pot.
They say it raises the risk of cross-contamination and foodborne infections.
The experts explained that germs like Salmonella and E. coli can sit on eggshells and pass into the rice as both cook.
Boiling kills bacteria, but the water stays warm for a while before it boils, and that gives the germs a chance to survive and spread to the rice.
They also said shells can crack during cooking, letting bits of egg spill into the rice and change its look, taste and smell.
They shared the warning online.
The warning follows a viral post online where users shared stories of falling sick after eating rice and eggs cooked together.
Many Nigerians do it to save time, water, cooking utensils and fuel.
Nutrition and public health practitioner James Oloyede, former Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education at the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, said Salmonella can remain on the shell even after washing.
He said rice starts soaking up water the moment it goes into the pot, so any germs in the water can be soaked up too and stay through the boiling.
He noted that some people now tie eggs in nylon to stop leaks because of high gas prices, but said the safest way is still to cook them separately.
Oloyede stressed that food safety must come first.
He said a Salmonella infection can bring hospital bills, lost work time and lower productivity, which can hurt daily paid workers and push up household costs, and that these outweigh the gas or time saved.
Another dietitian-nutritionist, Charles Oguikpe, said germs from the shell can drop onto the rice and cause stomach cramps, diarrhoea and fever, with severe cases leading to kidney problems.
He said the germs come from poultry droppings and that washing may not remove them completely.
He advised boiling eggs and cooking rice separately, then peeling the eggs before eating.