Eggs get salmonella causing a recall that never ends, when Congress is now interested

An egg producer from Iowa is now a part of the recall. This was announced Friday showing more recall added to the list. The half billion eggs are being recalled because, the Food and Drug Administration reports, in 10 states, there have been 1,000 people reported to get sick from them. The salmonella difficulties have made Congress interested in an investigation. July 9 was the beginning of new federal egg safety rules the FDA has decided to put into effect. FDA officials said if the new food safety rules had been in effect the salmonella outbreak could have been prevented.

Been caught with difficulties before with this egg producer

The largest egg recall started last week. The FDA says Wright County Egg recalled at least 380 million eggs. Quality Egg was shown by the FDA to have salmonella troubles as well which is why Hillendale Farms ended up recalling another 180 million eggs. As outlined by CNN, the House Energy and Commerce Committee wanted documents from both of the companies on Monday. Wright County Egg and Quality Egg are owned by the same person. The Midwest and Northeast DeCoster agribusiness empire owns them both. DeCoster companies have a history of questionable practices. In Maine, Jack DeCoster pleaded guilty in June to 10 civil counts of animal cruelty. In 1996, DeCoster was accused of having minors working in a sweatshop on a Maine chicken farm. He paid a $ 3.6 million fee because of this. DeCoster was accused of dumping hog manure in 2000. This led Iowa’s attorney general to call DeCoster a “habitual violator” of state environmental laws.

New federal egg safety rules

The USDA was in charge of inspecting eggs until July 9. Between May and July, there are 3 times more than normal reports of salmonella, which is about 2,000, reports the Center for Disease control. The Wall Street Journal reports that the FDA and also the USDA now share inspection duties. Farms now have to test eggs and facilities for salmonella along with protecting feed and water from contamination and chicks and hens have to be bought from those who monitor salmonella. The FDA is giving farms a year to become compliant.

Salmonella served sunny side up

Any eggs with certain packing dates and locations are being recalled meaning consumers should take back or throw out these eggs. Even so, a salmonella contamination expert told the Los Angeles Times that almost always there is some threat of salmonella poisoning from raw eggs. A person can’t determine a salmonella egg from its look, smell or taste. Many are getting salmonella poisoning from the way they cook their eggs. Typically it is contracted with hollandaise sauce or by eating sunny side up eggs. Salmonella bacteria is killed when an egg is cooked all the way. The yolk needs to be cooked all the way. Pasteurized eggs are safe. But consumers with eggs on the recall list should stay away from any risk and get their money back.

Additional reading

CNN

cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/23/eggs.salmonella/index.html?npt=NP1

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704504204575445981962961848.html

Los Angeles Times

mobile.latimes.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=294 and amp;nid=19361323 and amp;cid=17706 and amp;scid=1053 and amp;ith=1 and amp;title=Health