Halacha Yomis - Eggs: Brown Eggs OU Kosher Halacha Yomis This column is dedicated in memory of: Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky, zt'l Senior OU Kosher Halachic Consultant (1987-2016)

I have noticed that brown eggs often have brown spots. Are these the same as bloodspots? What you are noticing are most likely protein spots. Approximately 20% of brown eggs have protein spots which are only found in the egg white (albumen). Some of the pigment excreted by the chicken to color the shell, leaks into the egg white and collects in clumps. These colored clumps are, at times, quite large and have a reddish brown color. In other cases, the protein spots are just “specks” that look like someone sprinkled red glitter into the egg. Testing of protein spots shows that they contain no blood cells and aren’t blood. Rav Belsky, zt”l, said that protein spots are halachically permitted and are not included in any minhag.