‘Now I’ll Be Checking Every Egg With A Flashlight’: South Carolina Farmer Explains the ‘Ring of Death’ Found Inside Eggs

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina farmer has sparked viral discussion after explaining the unsettling phenomenon known as the “Ring of Death” inside eggs, a discovery that has left many backyard chicken keepers rethinking how they inspect their flocks’ production.

Viral TikTok Shows Strange Discovery

Homesteader Abigail Bennett (@abigailbennett26) posted a TikTok video showing herself candling an egg — the practice of holding an egg under a light to check its interior. The video, which has been viewed nearly 220,000 times, revealed a faint red ring inside the shell.

“This is also known as the ring of death,” Bennett explained. “If you’re ever candling an egg and you see a red ring like that, that is an indication that the embryo died within the first few days of incubation.”

She added that any egg with this appearance is “no longer viable.”

What Is Candling and Why It Matters

According to the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences, candling allows farmers to assess an egg’s air cell, yolk, and white, and more importantly, to track whether an embryo is developing normally.

Traditionally, candling was done manually in dark rooms with small lights. Today, large-scale producers use conveyor belts and scanning systems that can inspect hundreds of eggs per minute. These systems ensure that store-bought eggs are already checked before reaching consumers.

Public Reaction

Bennett’s video prompted hundreds of comments from viewers. Some admitted they were spooked:

• “So I have to candle my eggs now. Thankfully we don’t have a rooster but still,” one person wrote.
• “New fear unlocked… Thanks, now I’ll be checking every egg with a flashlight before eating it,” another added.

Others suggested simpler methods for checking farm eggs, such as the water float test — where bad eggs rise to the surface.

Why Consumers Rarely Encounter It

Experts stress that while the “ring of death” may look alarming, it’s something commercial buyers are unlikely to ever encounter thanks to strict U.S. certification requirements for egg candling facilities.

For homesteaders and small farm producers, however, candling remains an essential step in ensuring quality before eggs are sold or consumed.

Have you ever candled eggs at home or encountered unusual patterns inside? Share your experience with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.