Red Spot on Raw Egg: What Is It and Can You Eat It?

 

If you crack open a raw egg and notice a small red spot on the yolk, it can look alarming. Many people immediately assume the egg is fertilized or unsafe to eat. However, in most cases, that tiny red mark is completely harmless.

What Is the Red Spot?

The red spot is called a blood spot. It forms when a tiny blood vessel in the hen’s ovary or oviduct breaks during the egg-forming process. As the egg develops, a small drop of blood becomes trapped in the yolk.

These spots are more common in eggs from younger hens or from eggs that are not inspected by automated systems. In commercial egg production, most eggs with visible blood spots are removed before reaching stores, which is why they are relatively rare.

Is the Egg Fertilized?

This is one of the biggest myths. A red spot does not mean the egg is fertilized and it does not mean a chick was developing inside the egg. Fertilized eggs would show signs of development only after incubation, which does not happen with typical eggs sold for food.