THE OBLIGING DUCK
SIR,—I have just noticed that Mr. H. E. Bates, in his " Country Life " column, mentions a prejudice which exists against duck eggs. As no aspect of the food problem is now too trivial to be of import- ance, may I point out that this prejudice rests upon a very solid foundation?
The fact is that duck eggs are very much more prone than hen eggs to be infected with a virulent organism which is capable of producing a severe form of food poisoning, sometimes attended with fatal results. A perusal of page x12 of the current report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health will show that the danger is no mere theoretical one.
Duck eggs, therefore, should never be lightly but always thoroughly boiled—hard-boiled for preference.
This is not, of course, to say that every consumer of a raw or lightly boiled duck egg will contract-food poisoning. Nevertheless, the risk is there and it is not a very-remote one. Moreover, if you take a risk often enough the riskukes you faithfully, E. W. ADAMS.
Worthing, Sussex.
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