I've Got My Eggs and I've Got My Pancakes Too

Ok, so a longer post will come in the morning, but for now I just want to let all of you out in the blog-o-sphere know more about the egg debate that has been going on since I arrived last Monday.
Today Stacey took me back to Tessco (the supermarket) so that I could take a picture of the eggs on the shelf, and not in the refrigerated section. Those pictures will also be up tomorrow (hopefully).
This evening I finally got smart and started looking online for information about refrigerating eggs. And, this is what the USDA says:

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. "

It also goes on to say:

"Over time, the white and yolk of an egg lose quality. The yolk absorbs water from the white. Moisture and carbon dioxide in the white evaporate through the pores, allowing more air to penetrate the shell, and the air cell becomes larger. If broken open, the egg's contents would cover a wider area. The white be thinner, losing some of its thickening and leavening powers. The yolk would be flatter, larger and more easily broken. The chalazae (kah-LAY-zuh), the twisted cord-like strands of egg white that anchor the yolk in the center of the white, would be less prominent and weaker, allowing the yolk to move off center. Refrigeration slows the loss of quality over time. "

And...to top it all off, the UK's Department for Food and Environmental Affairs says:

Why Eggs are Not Refrigerated
"Before purchase by the consumer, EC legislation requires that eggs are stored and transported at a preferably constant temperature. This is current practice within the UK egg industry and the reason why the majority of retail outlets' egg displays are not refrigerated. Changes in storage temperature and humidity can lead to condensation forming on the egg shell which can cause mould growth together with the possibility that any bacteria may infect the eggs as a result. After purchase, the consumer is advised to refrigerate the eggs to maintain freshness and reduce the possibility of bacteria growth resulting from exposure to the temperature and humidity variations of the domestic kitchen."

So, there you have it ladies and gentlemen, eggs SHOULD be refrigerated! This means that I am not the crazy one after all...