Eggs in the fridge will last about 2 weeks longer

The White Rabbit wrote:

Eggs should be kept in the fridge
http://www.eggs.org.au/index.asp?pageid=353

The way I see it is if it was that important they would be sold from a fridge in the shop. Don't know about other countries but they certainly arn't round here.So they sit in a lovely pottery chicken on my shelf.  Never last long enough to consider 'extending life' by using fridge.

Why would you not refrigerate eggs?  It's a simple precaution!  You don't know how long the eggs were stored unrefrigerated on the farm where they were produced.  I would consider it a source of unclean clutter on the counter top where flying drips could collect, keep your counters clean and professional, free of clutter or things that aren't able to be thoroughly washed, it's a simple measure.  Temperatures fluctuate in homes, in our environment, all kinds of undesirable stuff breeds quickly in food left on counters.  In the U.S. eggs are refrigerated in shops.  The only instances I've heard of people not refrigerating them here in homes are those who have chickens and yet, they use up the eggs quickly or refrigerate them.

I've always kept eggs out of the fridge, and they never sit around long enough to go off.  Mind you, there have been days this winter when I think the fridge has been warmer than my kitchen 

I remember as a child we never refrigerated eggs, and we brought back 20 dozen at a time from my grandmother's coops.  But here's the deal, at least in America.  Natural eggs keep fine on the counter, but the eggs we buy in the store have the protective layer the hen secretes on them to seal them washed off.  It's the law.  They are then sprayed with mineral oil to mimic that seal but it does a mediocre job.  Eggs are porous--put one in soapy water and then eat it--nummy, soap!  Without the protective seal stuff gets in and they have to be refrigerated. 

Anyone know if they're washed in Europe?