August 31, 2026, 4:21 am | Read time: 3 minutes
A delicious scrambled egg in the morning or an egg as a baking ingredient for the next cake: Few foods are as much a part of daily life as the good old chicken egg. But as popular as they are, anyone who cracks one open occasionally will notice that sometimes a brown spot appears on the yolk. A household myth suggests that this spot indicates a fertilized egg. But is that really true? myHOMEBOOK spoke with an expert about it.
Follow myHOMEBOOK on WhatsApp now
The Myth of the Rooster’s Footprint
In fact, this reddish-brown spot on the yolk is known as the so-called rooster’s footprint. The myth that this egg was fertilized and can be identified by this spot has long persisted. However, Manon Struck-Pacyna, head of public relations at the German Food Association, says: “No, that is indeed a myth. A small brown or reddish spot in the egg is not an indication that the egg was fertilized.”
Are There Any Fertilized Eggs in the Supermarket?
Generally, eggs that are actually fertilized rarely end up on the shelf. This is mainly because hens and roosters are usually kept separate in laying hen farming, preventing fertilization. However, eggs from free-range farming can indeed be fertilized, as a documentary by SWR shows. This is primarily because hens and roosters are kept together there. The roosters are meant to keep natural predators like chicken hawks away.
Also interesting: 3 ways to use a raw half egg in the household
This Trick Prevents Breakfast Eggs from Cracking While Cooking
How Long Boiled Eggs Stay Fresh
The True Meaning Behind the Reddish-Brown Spot
But if the rooster’s footprint is a myth, what is behind the spot on the yolk? “Such a spot is usually a so-called blood or meat spot. During egg formation, a small blood vessel can rupture, allowing blood to enter the egg. In the case of meat spots, tiny tissue particles from the hen’s oviduct can also be enclosed.” Both processes are entirely normal. However, this spot does not indicate fertilization.
Should You Discard an Egg with a Blood or Meat Spot?
No, it is not necessary, according to the expert. “An egg does not need to be discarded just because of such a spot. The blood or meat spot is not a sign of spoilage. If the spot is visually bothersome, it can simply be removed with a spoon or the tip of a knife, and the egg can then be used as usual,” notes Struck-Pacyna. However, one should adhere to common hygiene rules regarding eggs. If they do not smell good when cracked open, they should not be consumed.
Other signs of a spoiled egg are:
- The yolk is flat instead of domed after cracking
- The egg white is watery
By the way: If you place a raw egg still in its shell in a glass of cold water and it floats to the top, it is spoiled. And if you shake an egg and it makes a watery sloshing sound, that is also a sign that the egg is older.