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Here's Why There's Stringy White Stuff On Your Egg Yolks By Dennis Lee Nov. 4, 2025 8:20 pm EST

Chances are, you've cracked open an egg and seen that little white squiggle attached to the side of the yolk more times than not. You've probably assumed it's perfectly normal since it's present in most eggs. And it is. That small twine-like white thread is called a chalaza, and it's not a vein or an umbilical cord, contrary to popular belief.

The purpose of a chalaza is to keep the egg yolk from jostling into the sides of the egg, so there are typically two in an egg, holding the top and bottom of the yolk to the lining membrane. Without them, there would likely be more chances for the egg yolk to break within the eggshell.

Chalazae (plural for "chalaza") are sim

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