Salmonella egg recall grows to 380 million and hundreds of people have been sickened in 4 states such as California, Colorado, Minnesota and North Carolina. While 380 million eggs are part of a national recall, officials in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware say residents of their states have reason to be scared.
The initial recall was issued last week. Eggs affected by the expanded recall were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and food service companies in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
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. It wasn’t immediately clear when the eggs were produced and distributed.
Affected carton sizes range from 6 eggs to 18. If you have one of the brands, check plant and date codes on the carton or case. Look for plant codes P-1026, P-1413, P-1720, P-1946 or P-1942, followed by three digit date codes from 136 to 229.
Recalled eggs should be returned to the point of purchase.
To avoid salmonella, consumers are advised to avoid to raw or undercooked eggs; to wash hands and objects touched by raw egg; and to refrigerate eggs and leftover foods containing them, health officials say.
Fever, cramps and diarrhea are the usual symptoms of salmonella enteritidis infections. Sometimes hospital treatment with antibiotics is needed, especially with infants, the elderly, and people who have compromised immune systems. Untreated salmonella infections reaching the bloodstream can be fatal.
Salmonella is the most common bacterial form of food poisoning. And the strain involved in the outbreak is the most common strain of salmonella, accounting for roughly 20 percent of all salmonella food poisonings.
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 form of salmonella can be passed from chickens that appear healthy. And it grows inside eggs and not just on the shell.
Thoroughly cooking eggs can kill the bacteria. But health officials are recommending people throw away or return the recalled eggs.
Consumers with questions should visit http://www.eggsafety.org or call Wright County at 866-272-5582 for a message outlining recall instructions.
