Today, a friend shared an IG post reminding me of my 'egg hunt' in London last year.
My wife and I were grocery shopping and couldn't find the eggs. This corner store had everything else... milk, deli meat, bread, cheese, prepared sandwiches, and much more. We walked up and down the refrigerated aisles, inspecting the shelves, thinking we had missed them.
Finally, we asked a store attendant if they had eggs. He said, 'Sure,' and pointed toward the lower shelves. I looked where he was pointing and still didn't see the eggs! Well, the eggs were right where he pointed...cartons and cartons of them... on a shelf that wasn't refrigerated. I realized that it took some time for me to see the eggs because I wasn't expecting them to be there stocked right under the sugar. In the U.S., eggs are refrigerated so we can usually find them next to the milk and other dairy products.
Isn’t it interesting how much our habits shape what we see, and what we miss?
In case you're interested... the IG post shared:
"In the US, eggs are washed and sanitized, stripping away a natural protective layer that keeps bacteria out. That’s why American eggs have to be chilled from farm to fridge. Across the pond, washing eggs is illegal. British and European farms vaccinate hens against Salmonella and leave that natural coating intact, which means eggs can safely sit at room temperature. Two different food safety philosophies, one goal: keeping you healthy."