Storing eggs

I just read the followin at a food site:

Always store eggs in the refrigerator. Bacteria inside or on the outside of an egg multiplies much faster at room temperature than in your walk-in.

An egg stored under refrigeration for one week will be fresher than one stored at room temperature for just one day! The inside of an egg may be bacteria free, while due its porous nature, the shell may hold a high bacteria count.

I am not sure if I totally agree with this. When I was in France all of the eggs were left outside, they were never stored in the refrigerator. What are some other thoughts on this?

[layjo]

I just found this at the website http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/shelleggs.htm

Why Should Eggs Be
Refrigerated?

"Temperature fluctuation is critical to safety. With the concern about Salmonella,
eggs gathered from laying hens should be refrigerated as soon as possible. After
eggs are refrigerated, they need to stay that way. A cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, facilitating the growth of bacteria. Refrigerated eggs should not be left out more than 2 hours."( Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agricultur Washington, D.C.)

I think that this has mainly to do with food handling practices in general. The "old days" of leaving eggs out is not acceptable anymore because of the growing costs of insurances, law suits, and the general overall public concern about food safety. There has been several cases of e coli and semonella poisoning caused from eggs, and it just a generally better habit to keep them refrigerated. It may not be better...but safer.

[nutcakes]

Robert, beside the bacteria risk, I think the idea is that the unrefrigerated eggs deteriorate faster. You know how old eggs, when cracked show a watery ring as the whites break down? You can do a test yourself to compare, if you make careful mental note of the condition of the egg that is left out 24 hours and cracked to observe, and the one 5 days or so later that was refrigerated. At least this is what they photographed this on some TV program I watched (sorry, can't remember what it was).