Friday, August 20, 2010

UPDATE: 380 million eggs recalled in salmonella outbreak

An estimated 380 million eggs are being recalled in the wake of a salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs. This is an increase from the 228 million eggs recalled Wednesday.
Almost 300 cases of illness in California, Minnesota and Colorado have been reported to be associated with the strain of salmonella involved in the recall, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is estimating sickness from the outbreak could reach thousands of people, according to an
ABC news report.
The nationwide recall involves more than a dozen brands of eggs from Iowa-based
Wright County Egg. The recall specifically relates to eggs packed between May 16 and Aug. 13, with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1026, 1413, 1720, 1942 and 1946. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the incident.
Eggs affected by the recall were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Illinois, Utah, Nebraska, Arkansas, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. These companies distribute nationwide.
The recalled eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Dutch Farms, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Lund, Kemps and Pacific Coast, in varying sizes of cartons (six-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons and loose eggs for institutional use and repackaging).
Dutch Farms, whose eggs have been part of the recall, said Wright County Egg used unauthorized egg cartons to package and sell eggs without Dutch Farms' knowledge. The Dutch Farms eggs were distributed to Walgreens in the following states: Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota and Arkansas. Dutch Farms is seeking legal representation in the matter.
Wright County Egg released the following statement: "Wright County Egg is fully cooperating with FDA's investigation by undertaking this voluntary recall. Our primary concern is keeping salmonella out of the food supply and away from consumers. As a precautionary measure, Wright County Egg also has decided to divert its existing inventory of shell eggs from the recalled plants to a breaker, where they will be pasteurized to kill any salmonella bacteria present."
Contaminated eggs should not be eaten, but rather disposed of or returned to the store at which they were purchased for a full refund. Wright County Egg has set up a message outlining recall instructions for consumers at +1.866.272.5582 . Additional information is available through the
Egg Safety Center.

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