Are Eggs Kosher???

[TanteBelle]

I read somewhere this week that to the Jews, it is an abomination to eat fish eggs. Perhaps they mean Ultra-Orthodox, I'm not so sure, but it did get me thinking. The pagans back in Bible times ate certain unlawful parts of an animal for whatever 'spiritual/physical enhancement' they supposed they gave. Eggs are new life. You can't know if a hen's egg is fertilized and that life has already started or not unless you wait it out for a while and hold the egg up to a light, but is it wrong to eat something that is the starting of new life? Should we be eating eggs of any kind? Are there any scripture references that refer to it being kosher or not?

 

[ChavaK]

I read somewhere this week that to the Jews, it is an abomination to eat fish eggs. Perhaps they mean Ultra-Orthodox, I'm not so sure, but it did get me thinking. The pagans back in Bible times ate certain unlawful parts of an animal for whatever 'spiritual/physical enhancement' they supposed they gave. Eggs are new life. You can't know if a hen's egg is fertilized and that life has already started or not unless you wait it out for a while and hold the egg up to a light, but is it wrong to eat something that is the starting of new life? Should we be eating eggs of any kind? Are there any scripture references that refer to it being kosher or not?

Eggs, either fish or fowl, are kosher as long as they come from kosher species.
The eggs retain the kosher status of the species that they came from.
The only issue with eggs from fowl is that they must be checked for blood spots before being used.

There is a commandment in the Torah about shooing away the mother bird before you take eggs from her nest,
so eating them is not a problem.

It actually says our days will be lengthened if we do this:

Dvarim 22:6-7

6. If a bird's nest chances before you on the road, on any tree, or on the ground, and [it contains] fledglings or eggs, if the mother is sitting upon the fledglings or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother upon the young.
7. You shall send away the mother, and [then] you may take the young for yourself, in order that it should be good for you, and you should lengthen your days.

 

[Lulav]

I could only have the heart to do that if I was starving.

 

[ChavaK]

I could only have the heart to do that if I was starving.

Chase the mother bird away from her nest? I agree, but fortunately
it's something most of us no longer have to worry about these days.

 

[Lulav]

Chase the mother bird away from her nest? I agree, but fortunately
it's something most of us no longer have to worry about these days.

Yes, my heart breaks when after weeks of watching a pair of birds make their nest awaiting their young to have a nasty bird like a cowbird or a certain kind of sparrow come and chase them out and destroy their eggs.

Or worst yet, to watch a pair of birds like cardinals who mate for life and only have a few young ones per year, to end up raising a cowbird because a female cowbird has gone to their nest, removed the cardinal eggs and laid her's instead. Or they lay their eggs and because the cowbirds are larger the young cardinals aren't strong enough to get the food and the baby cardinals die.

Ok, now I can't eat any eggs for awhile! :o

 

[TanteBelle]

Thanks so much for your reply Chavak! Does that apply to fish as well? That you can just take the eggs? Does it make a difference if they are cooked or not (fish or bird eggs)?

 

[ChavaK]

Thanks so much for your reply Chavak! Does that apply to fish as well? That you can just take the eggs? Does it make a difference if they are cooked or not (fish or bird eggs)?

Fish eggs are no problem, as long as they are from a kosher species of fish.
Doesn't matter if they are cooked or not...but do people actually eat them
raw? Ick!

 

[anisavta]

Caviar. Salty raw fish eggs. People pay big bucks for the experience.

 

[Lulav]

From what I understand Caviar isn't Kosher, it comes from the Sturgeon fish which isn't considered Kosher. My mother used to love eating Shad roe.

Here's a list of anyone that is looking into eating fish to know which is and isn't considered Kosher.

Kosher Fish

 

[ChavaK]

Caviar. Salty raw fish eggs. People pay big bucks for the experience.

Ick. I've never tried it and it doesn't sound appetizing...didn't even
realize it was raw.

 

[ChavaK]

From what I understand Caviar isn't Kosher, it comes from the Sturgeon fish which isn't considered Kosher. My mother used to love eating Shad roe.

Here's a list of anyone that is looking into eating fish to know which is and isn't considered Kosher.

Kosher Fish

I think the Conservative movement accepts Sturgeon as kosher, but of
course I don't hold by them anyway...and have no desire to try caviar.

As you note, there are other caviars available from kosher fish.

 

[TanteBelle]

Fish eggs are no problem, as long as they are from a kosher species of fish.
Doesn't matter if they are cooked or not...but do people actually eat them
raw? Ick!

Personally, I don't think that eggs ought to be eaten raw, but that is a personal opinion.

Caviar. Salty raw fish eggs. People pay big bucks for the experience.

I have never eaten caviar and don't think I am game enough to! Perk!!!! My bro in law is big on all that fancy quisine (however you spell that word; couldn't be bothered to look it up!) and it trying to get me to eat all these strange foods but I don't like any of it and I don't reckon I'm going to like caviar either!

 

[stone]

it's only kosher if you chase off the birds before you gather the eggs.

How are eggs gathered today in the commercial industry? Do the eggs roll down a spiraling tube and onto a conveyer belt, as soon as they're laid?

So if grocery store eggs are gathered from hen houses that collect or remove the egg from the nest while the hen is sitting on the nest, those eggs are not kosher.

 

[TanteBelle]

it's only kosher if you chase off the birds before you gather the eggs.

How are eggs gathered today in the commercial industry? Do the eggs roll down a spiraling tube and onto a conveyer belt, as soon as they're laid?

So if grocery store eggs are gathered from hen houses that collect or remove the egg from the nest while the hen is sitting on the nest, those eggs are not kosher.

LOL! That was funny. Well, going along with your technical insights, I'd say that I'm still 'kosher' coz we have our own hens that lay their eggs! Haha!