228M Eggs Recalled following Salmonella OutbreakBy MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer
– Tue Aug 17, 11:55 pm ET
WASHINGTON – An Iowa egg producer is recalling 228 million eggs after being linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said eggs from Wright County Egg in Galt, Iowa, were linked to several illnesses in Colorado, California and Minnesota. The CDC said about 200 cases of the strain of salmonella linked to the eggs were reported weekly during June and July, four times the normal number of such occurrences.
State health officials say tainted eggs have sickened at least 266 Californians and seven in Minnesota.
The eggs were distributed around the country and packaged under the names Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp.
The Food and Drug Administration is investigating.
In a statement, company officials said the FDA is "on-site to review records and inspect our barns." The officials said they began the recall Aug. 13.
The most common symptoms of salmonella are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight hours to 72 hours of eating a contaminated product. It can be life-threatening, especially to those with weakened immune systems.
This is a major recall with a very HIGH Risk factor to many segments of the population. Are we doing enough to provide food safety to our country? What needs to be done to increase the level of food safety and consumer awareness of the risks? Post your comments!
For more on egg food safety...go to this link. http://www.eggsafety.org/
Our local health department has a "Community Food Safety Roundtable” that brings together chefs, faculty, food service managers and consumers to address this very issue. Each meeting has an educational session, a roundtable discussion and a brain storming session all designed to generate actionable ideas as to how we, as industry professionals, can help increase food safety and consumer knowledge. I feel this is a great grassroots initiative that can result in real change. I think other members do also, since attendance at these meetings has doubled in the last year.
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