The world's oldest living human swears by eating them, but raw eggs can cause severe food poisoning, warn experts.
Italian woman Emma Morano, born on November 29, 1899, turned 117 this week and credited her long life with eating eggs and "cookies" daily.
Ms Morano told reporters she started the habit of eating two raw eggs and one cooked egg every day at the age of 20 when she was diagnosed with anaemia.
Eggs are high in protein and contain the brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. The colour of the yolk also contains pigments that benefit eye health.
While everyone want's to live a long life, Australia's Food Safety Information Council has warned against Morano's "concerning" habit.
"Raw eggs are not particularly safe depending on how they're handled," said the council's chair Rachelle Williams.
"If eggs are actually handled properly then they are perfectly fine and that means you have to get them from recognised suppliers and you need to make sure you are keeping them cool to keep them safe."
Leading nutritionist Manny Noakes says an egg a day is very good for health but also advises against "risky" raw-egg eating.
"Eggs are great but cooking eggs is important because of the risks of salmonella," Professor Noakes told AAP.
Salmonella is a bacteria found a foods such as eggs, chicken and pork and can cause severe food poisoning.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever.
