Assessment of microbial profile and microbiological safety of araucana (mapuche) eggs and white shell eggs

Genetic, physiological, and social factors contribute to the formation of diverse dietary habits among people. As a result, an increasing number of consumers seek a variety of food products that meet their specific needs. Araucana (Mapuche) eggs attract attention due to their distinctive blue shell and unique nutritional profile. However, there is limited scientific data regarding their microbiological safety. The aim of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of the microbial load and diversity in ordinary chicken eggs and Araucana (Mapuche) chicken eggs. For sample preparation, the surface washing method was employed, where each egg was immersed in a sterile solution and then the microbial load was analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Jamovi software, and the differences in contamination between the two egg types were assessed using an independent samples t-test and the Mann–Whitney test. The results indicate that Escherichia coli was not detected in the internal content of any egg samples, while contamination on the shell was observed in both ordinary and Araucana (Mapuche) chicken eggs, with no significant difference between the two groups. The microbiological analysis further revealed similar levels of Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus spp. and total yeasts and molds on the shells of both egg types, suggesting comparable microbial safety between ordinary and Araucana chicken eggs.