| Recall expands to more than half a billion eggs due to | | | | the patient becomes severely dehydrated or the |
| salmonella outbreak | | | | infection spreads from the intestines. Persons with |
| More than a half-billion eggs have so far been | | | | severe diarrhea may require re-hydration, often with |
| recalled in the nationwide investigation of a salmonella | | | | intravenous fluids. |
| outbreak. It is expected that this number will go | | | | Treatment with antibiotics is not usually necessary; |
| beyond this present number,which may be more than | | | | however, if the infection spreads from the intestines, |
| a billion or more. This is a recorded number of eggs | | | | or otherwise persists, the infection can be treated |
| recalled.The outbreak has already sickened more than | | | | with ampicillin, gentamicin, trimethoprim |
| 1,000 people and the toll of illnesses is expected to | | | | sulfamethoxazole, ceftriaxone, amoxicillin, or |
| increase. | | | | ciprofloxacin. The length of treatment varies |
| Iowa's Hillandale Farms recently said that it was | | | | depending on the extent of a patient's illness, and can |
| recalling more than 170 million eggs after laboratory | | | | range from 14 days for enteric fever to six weeks |
| tests confirmed salmonella. The company did not | | | | for bactremia (Mayo Clinic, 2007, April 12). Some |
| pass any comment if its action was connected to | | | | Salmonella bacteria have become antibiotic-resistant. |
| the recall by Wright County Egg, another Iowa farm | | | | Consult your healthcare provider if you believe you |
| which also recalled 380 million eggs earlier lately. The | | | | have become ill with salmonellosis |
| latest recall counts the total number of potentially | | | | Spreading of this disease through states and |
| tainted eggs at about 550 million. | | | | follow-up of the Federal Rules |
| Nationwide, 90.4 billion eggs were produced last year, | | | | Minnesota, a state with some of the best food-borne |
| according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. | | | | illness investigators in the country, has tied at least |
| FDA spokeswoman Pat El-Hinnawy said that the | | | | seven salmonella illnesses to the eggs. California has |
| two recalls are related. The strain of salmonella | | | | reported 266 illnesses since June, 2010and believes |
| bacteria causing the poisoning is the same in both | | | | many are related to the eggs. Colorado saw 28 |
| cases, salmonella enteritidis. | | | | cases in June and July, about four times the usual |
| Federal officials reported that it's one of the largest | | | | number. |
| egg recalls in recent history. Americans consume | | | | Other states have seen a jump in reports of the |
| about 220 million eggs a day, based on industry | | | | same type of salmonella. Spikes or clusters of |
| estimates. Iowa is the leading egg producing state. | | | | suspicious cases have also been reported in Arizona, |
| The eggs recalled recently were distributed under the | | | | Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. |
| brand names, Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, Sunny | | | | The CDC said investigations by 10 states since April |
| Meadow, Wholesome Farms and West Creek. The | | | | have identified 26 cases where more than one |
| new recall applies to eggs sold between April and | | | | person became ill. Preliminary information showed that |
| August. | | | | Wright was the supplier in at least 15 of those. |
| Hillandale also reported that the eggs were distributed | | | | Much of the investigation so far has been centered |
| to grocery distribution centers, retail groceries and | | | | on restaurants in California, Colorado, Minnesota and |
| food service companies that service or are located in | | | | North Carolina |
| fourteen states, including Arkansas, California, Iowa, | | | | The businessman who owns Wright County Egg, |
| Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, | | | | Jack DeCoster, has been cited for numerous health, |
| North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and | | | | safety and employment violations in the past. In |
| Wisconsin. | | | | 1997, DeCoster Egg Farms agreed to pay $2 million in |
| A thoroughly cooking eggs can generally kill the | | | | fines to settle citations brought in 1996 for health and |
| bacteria. But health officials are recommending people | | | | safety violations at DeCoster's farm in Turner, Maine. |
| throw away or return the recalled eggs. | | | | Wright County Egg is already facing at least two |
| A food safety expert at Cornell University in Ithaca, | | | | lawsuits related to the recall. One is from food |
| N.Y., said," The source of the outbreak could be | | | | distributor Dutch Farms, which says the company, |
| rodents, shipments of contaminated hens, or tainted | | | | used unauthorized cartons to package and sell eggs |
| feed". Microbiology professor Patrick McDonough | | | | under its brand name without its knowledge. The |
| said," He is not surprised to hear about two recalls | | | | other is from a person who said they became ill after |
| involving different egg companies, because in other | | | | eating tainted eggs in a salad at a restaurant in |
| outbreaks there have also been multiple sources". | | | | Kenosha, Wis. |
| Both the plants of these farms, could have a rodent | | | | The outbreak also raised new questions about |
| problem, or both plants could have gotten hens that | | | | federal inspections of egg farms. |
| were already infected, or feed that was | | | | McGarry cited jurisdictional issues when she told |
| contaminated. | | | | reporters that the agency "does not have an |
| "You need biosecurity of the hen house, you want a | | | | inspectional history with this firm". " When asked who |
| rodent control program and you want to have hens | | | | does have jurisdiction, McGarry pointed to the |
| put into that environment that are salmonella free," | | | | Agriculture Department. Yet USDA oversees |
| McDonough said. | | | | voluntary grading inspections, but does not test for |
| "The salmonella bacteria is not passed from hen to | | | | salmonella in shell eggs. |
| hen, but usually from rodent droppings to chickens", | | | | The FDA acknowledged in a statement lately that it |
| he added. "This strain of bacteria is found inside a | | | | has done some inspections on egg farms already |
| chicken's ovaries, and gets inside an egg", he further | | | | linked to recalls, but did not say anything additional |
| added. | | | | about whether the agency had inspected Wright |
| CDC officials said that the number of illnesses related | | | | County Egg. |
| to the outbreak is expected to grow. That's because | | | | Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director for the |
| illnesses occurring after mid-July may not be reported | | | | Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the egg |
| yet, said Dr. Christopher Braden, an epidemiologist | | | | recall shows that stronger authority is needed on the |
| with the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC). | | | | farm. |
| "Almost 2,000 illnesses from the strain of salmonella | | | | "Jurisdiction over eggs has been scrambled between |
| linked to both recalls were reported between May | | | | numerous government agencies for the last 20 |
| and July-2010, almost 1,300 more than usual", Braden | | | | years, resulting in enormous delays in addressing the |
| said. No deaths have been reported. The CDC is | | | | hazard posed by salmonella," she said. |
| continuing to receive information from state health | | | | Legislation that would increase the frequency of FDA |
| departments as people report their illnesses. | | | | inspections has stalled in the Senate after the House |
| Salmonella is the most common form of food | | | | passed it a year ago. |
| poisoning from bacteria, and the strain involved in the | | | | Consumer Concern |
| outbreak is the most common kind of salmonella | | | | "Consumers holding off buying eggs because of |
| — accounting for roughly 20 percent of all such | | | | health concerns will dampen demand and lower prices, |
| food poisonings. | | | | more than any supply disruption," Otto, an extension |
| Most people who get sick with salmonella enteriditis | | | | economist at Iowa State University in said today in a |
| develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps | | | | telephone interview. |
| between 12 and 72 hours after infection, according | | | | A dozen Grade A eggs cost $1.44 a dozen in July |
| to health officials. The illness typically lasts between | | | | -2010, 35 percent less than they cost at their all-time |
| four and seven days. | | | | peak in March 2008, according to the Bureau of |
| But babies, elderly people and those with weakened | | | | Labor Statistics. The USDA expects prices this year |
| immune systems are more likely to develop severe | | | | to rise 2.5 to 3.5 percent, compared with 2 to 3 |
| illness. Severe infections can be fatal if left untreated | | | | percent for food as a whole, it said last month. |
| with antibiotics. | | | | Avoid Salmonella from Eggs: 4 Steps to Take Now |
| Symptoms of Salmonella Infection | | | | 1. "Eggs should be cooked until both the white and |
| An infectious dose of Salmonella is small, probably | | | | the yolk are firm." In other words, solid. Avoid |
| from 15 to 20 cells. Typically, non-typhoidal | | | | soft-boiled eggs, runny scrambled eggs, and eggs |
| Salmonella produces a self-limiting febrile | | | | prepared sunny side up. |
| gastrointestinal illness that is indistinguishable from | | | | 2. "Refrigerate unused or leftover egg-containing |
| that caused by other bacterial enteric pathogens. | | | | foods promptly." No, that doesn't mean you have to |
| Dehydration is the principal clinical concern. The | | | | refrigerate every loaf of bread, cake, or muffin that's |
| incubation period – the time between ingestion of | | | | baked with eggs. But you should store the egg salad, |
| Salmonella bacteria and the onset of illness – | | | | casseroles, and quiches at once, or at the very least, |
| varies from six to 72 hours (Mayo Clinic, 2007, April | | | | don't leave them outside the fridge for more than |
| 12; MMWR Recomm Rep, 2001). | | | | two hours. |
| Salmonella can cause three different kinds of illness: | | | | 3. "Avoid eating raw eggs." That means no raw cake |
| gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, and bacteremia. | | | | batter, cookie dough, or Rocky-style shakes. Got |
| Symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis include | | | | that? |
| diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and/or | | | | 4. "Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or |
| vomiting. In mild cases diarrhea may be non-bloody, | | | | undercooked, unpasteurized eggs." This may be a bit |
| occur several times per day, and not be very | | | | tough because it requires you to grill your waitress, |
| voluminous; in severe cases it may be frequent, | | | | who may have to go into the kitchen to ask the |
| bloody and/or mucoid, and of high volume. | | | | chef, who may be less than thrilled. But it's certainly |
| Fever generally occurs in the 100°F to 102°F | | | | important, since restaurants tend to be a prime |
| (38°C to 39°C) range. Vomiting is less common | | | | source of food poisoning outbreaks. Ask if any |
| than diarrhea. Headaches, myalgias (muscle pain), and | | | | sauces or dressings that traditionally use raw eggs, |
| arthralgias (joint pain) are often reported as well. | | | | such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing, |
| Whereas the diarrhea typically lasts 24 to 72 hours, | | | | use pasteurized eggs; these, like the egg whites you |
| patients often report fatigue and other nonspecific | | | | buy in a carton, are heated to temperatures high |
| symptoms lasting 7 days or longer. | | | | enough to kill salmonella. Otherwise avoid them. Be |
| Treatment for Salmonella Infection | | | | sure to also check the dessert menu: mousse, |
| Salmonella infections usually resolve in five to seven | | | | meringue, and tiramisu sometimes also contain |
| days, and many times require no treatment unless | | | | uncooked eggs. |