Safety tips to follow when handling eggs for Easter weekend

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As you are getting your Easter weekend underway, you may be considered doing some easter egg coloring along with other Easter activities with your family.

If you are planning active that involve the use of eggs, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is giving guidelines for people to follow.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, you'll want to make sure to wash your hands before and after coloring the eggs. When you start coloring eggs, the state health department says to only color un-cracked eggs that have been hard-cooked or boiled.

Once the eggs are done, be sure to dye them and put them back into the refrigerator within 2 hours. If you plan to eat the colored eggs later, use food coloring or dyes made for food.

If you plan to use eggs as part of an Easter egg hunt or decorations, the state health department says not to eat eggs that have been hidden or used as a decoration for more than 2 hours and place any eggs in the refrigerator immediately after they have been found.

The state health department says the total time for hiding and hunting eggs should not exceed 2 hours and eggs should be hidden in places that are protected from dirt, moisture, pets, and other sources of bacteria.

The state health department says the total time for hiding and hunting eggs should not exceed 2 hours