Quick Answer
It is generally not recommended to eat food that a bird has pecked or touched. Birds can carry bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter in their droppings and on their feet which can contaminate food. However, the risk is low if the food item has an intact skin or shell and is thoroughly cooked. Use common sense – if the pecked area is small and you cook the food thoroughly after washing it, the risk is minimal. But it’s better to be safe and avoid eating food with obvious bites or damage from birds.
What diseases can birds spread through food?
Birds can potentially spread the following foodborne illnesses by contaminating food and water:
- Salmonella – Common bacteria found in bird droppings. Causes diarrhea, fever, and cramps.
- Campylobacter – Common bacteria found in bird droppings. Causes diarrhea, cramping, fever, and vomiting.
- Avian flu – Rare. Causes fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches. Requires close contact with sick birds.
- Histoplasmosis – Rare fungal infection from dried bird droppings. Causes flu-like illness.
- Cryptococcus – Rare yeast infection from dried droppings. Causes lung and brain infections.
Birds that often come in contact with humans like chickens, ducks, and geese are more likely to spread pathogens through food and water contamination. Wild city birds like pigeons, starlings, and seagulls can also transmit diseases through droppings and contaminated food or water.
What types of food are more at risk of contamination?
Foods that are more likely to be contaminated by bird pecks or droppings include:
- Fruits with damaged skin or peel – Apples, berries, mangoes
- Vegetables – Lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers
- Breads and baked goods – Pastries, donuts, bagels
- Ready to eat foods – Salads, sandwiches, pizza
- Open containers of food or drink – Cups of coffee, bowls of cereal, cans of soda
Foods with an intact skin or shell have a lower risk of contamination from minor surface contact. However, birds can still contaminate these foods through cracks, damages, or droppings.
What is the risk from a single peck or touch?
The actual risk from a single, minor peck or touch from a bird is very low. Studies show that brief contact with bird saliva or droppings is unlikely to be enough to make you sick in most cases.
However, the following factors increase the risk:
- Deep pecks or punctures into the food item
- Visible droppings or spit on the food item
- Pecked area is large or covers most of the food item
- Food item is meant to be eaten raw like fruits or salads
- You have a weaker immune system or are pregnant/elderly
So a small nip to an intact apple is less risky than a piece of bread left outdoors with bites taken out of it. Use common sense to assess the level of contamination.
How to handle food pecked by birds
Here are some tips if food has been nibbled or pecked by birds:
- Inspect the item and discard any that are excessively damaged/dirty
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water
- Remove the outermost layer if possible – for example, peel off the skin of apples
- Clean any containers or surfaces touched by birds
- Cook food items like eggs, poultry, baked goods thoroughly to kill bacteria
- Avoid raw consumption of damaged items – cook them instead
Taking these precautions can greatly reduce the risk of illness. High-risk individuals like pregnant women, infants, elderly, or immunocompromised people may want to discard heavily contaminated items.
Is it safe to eat eggs with small cracks or pecks?
Eggs with minor cracks or pecks are usually safe to eat provided they are cooked thoroughly. Salmonella contamination only penetrates about 1.5-3mm into the egg. So minor cracks to the shell don’t contaminate the interior. However, eggs with larger cracks or damage should be discarded.
Here are some tips for handling cracked eggs:
- Inspect the crack – if hairline and small, it should be safe
- Discard eggs with large cracks, leaks, or bulging shell
- Cook the egg thoroughly until both yolk and white are firm
- Avoid raw or undercooked consumption of cracked eggs
- Refrigerate after cooking and eat within 2-3 days
The FDA considers eggs safe for sale/consumption if cracks are less than 1/8 inch wide and don’t leak. So the same principle can be applied to pecks or minor cracks at home.
Conclusion
While the risk from a single minor bird peck is very low in most cases, it’s generally best to be cautious and not eat food that has obvious bite marks or droppings from birds. However, fruits, vegetables, eggs, or baked goods with minor damage can be safely consumed if washed and thoroughly cooked. Use common sense to evaluate the level of contamination and take appropriate precautions. When in doubt, discarding pecked items is better than risking illness. Proper cooking, washing, and hygiene goes a long way to prevent foodborne diseases from bird contamination.
