You may love a raw egg in your protein shake, but is it safe? According to the Centers for Disease Control, salmonella, the "raw egg" disease that made headlines in the 1980s, is far from obsolete. Here’s what you need to know to protect your health.

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella is short for Salmonella enteritidis, harmful bacteria that infects the ovaries and intestines of hens and other animals. The bacteria can pass into eggs as they are forming, and into humans through raw or undercooked egg products that have been contaminated.

About 12 to 72 hours after becoming infected with salmonella, a person develops symptoms such as a fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. These symptoms may last up to a week, causing weakness and dehydration. In young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems, the infection may spread to other parts of the body, requiring antibiotics or hospitalization. However, most healthy people recover from salmonella without medication.