Egg coffee, a Vietnamese beverage featuring raw or lightly cooked eggs whisked into coffee, has gained viral momentum on TikTok. Health experts warn the trend carries real infection risks that deserve attention.
The drink combines eggs with sweetened condensed milk and hot coffee, creating a creamy foam. While traditional Vietnamese recipes sometimes use pasteurized eggs or cook the mixture to safe temperatures, TikTok versions often skip these safeguards. Many creators whisk raw eggs directly into the beverage, bypassing any pathogen elimination.
Raw eggs pose documented health hazards. Salmonella bacteria contaminate approximately one in 20,000 eggs in the United States, according to food safety data. Infection causes severe diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps lasting a week or longer. Vulnerable populations face graver consequences. Pregnant people, young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals experience hospitalization rates five times higher than healthy adults when infected.
The temperature of hot coffee alone does not guarantee safety. While boiling water kills most pathogens, coffee typically reaches 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range falls short of the 160-degree minimum needed to eliminate Salmonella in eggs. The brief contact between hot liquid and raw egg provides insufficient time and heat for complete pathogen destruction.
Food safety organizations consistently advise against consuming raw or undercooked eggs. The USDA and CDC recommend either pasteurized eggs or cooking eggs to an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Pasteurized eggs undergo heat treatment that eliminates bacteria without cooking the egg itself, making them safe for raw consumption.
If you want to try egg coffee safely, use pasteurized eggs available at most grocery stores, or heat the egg mixture thoroughly before combining it with coffee. Traditional Vietnamese recipes often employ these methods, balancing authentic