Is It Safe to Eat Raw Eggs? The idea of eating raw eggs makes many people squeamish. But what is the actual risk involved? Health experts say the biggest risk is salmonellosis, or salmonella poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, malaise and chills. Eggs in the US are thoroughly cleaned and refrigerated to minimize the risk of bacterial infection. Pasteurized eggs, such as liquid eggs in a carton, are safe to consume raw. Adding sugar binds some of the water in egg whites, which reduces the amount of water for bacterial metabolism. Although oregano or thyme may have an antibacterial effect, it's never completely safe to consume eggs raw.