Half a billion eggs in the US have been recalled in an investigation into a salmonella outbreak, which now includes two farms in the state of Iowa.

Hillandale Farms announced it was recalling 170 million eggs after tests confirmed salmonella. Hillandale Farms of Iowa is recalling shell eggs because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Eggs affected by the recall were distributed to grocery distribution centers, retail grocery stores and foodservice companies which service or are located in fourteen states, including the following: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
There have been laboratory-confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses associated with the shell eggs; the investigation is ongoing. Eggs are distributed under the following brand names: Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, and Sunny Meadow in 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg package, and 5-dozen cases. Loose eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Wholesome Farms and West Creek in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs. The loose eggs may also be repackaged by customers.The only eggs effected by this recall have plant numbers P1860 or P1663 and Julian dates as follows:
P1860 – Julian dates ranging from 099 to 230
P1663 – Julian dates ranging from 137 to 230
Julian dates and plant codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P1860 230.

The news follows a recall earlier this week by another Iowa farm that recalled 380 million eggs. An FDA spokeswoman said the two cases are linked. Wright County Egg announced this week the company distributes its product under more than a dozen names.
The salmonella strains causing the illnesses are the same from both farms, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Food regulators said salmonella cases have increased threefold since May. About 2,000 salmonella cases were reported between May and July, roughly 1,300 more than usual, the Centers for Disease Control said. Proper cooking can kill the bacteria, but authorities recommend discarding or returning any potentially affected eggs.
The recent outbreak could be caused by rodents, shipments of contaminated hens, or tainted feed, says Cornell University microbiology professor Patrick McDonough.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials warn that salmonella cases may increase.”I would anticipate that we will be seeing more illnesses reported likely as a result of this outbreak,” said Dr Christopher Braden of the CDC. Cases that occurred after mid-July may not have been reported yet, Dr Braden told reporters. But he also said that not all of the roughly 2,000 reported cases of the bacteria-borne disease could be linked to the outbreak. Salmonella poisoning can be deadly for people with compromised immune systems, but no deaths have so far been reported.

FDA Publishes New Guidance on the Egg Safety Rule
Meanwhile the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published an additional guidance for egg producers to help them further comply with the new federal egg safety rule. The guidance, entitled “Guidance for Industry: Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation”, provides recommendations on certain provisions contained in the rule, including how to implement Salmonella enteritidis prevention measures, how to sample for Salmonella, and how to maintain records documenting compliance with the final rule. On July 9, 2010, the new food safety requirements became effective for egg producers having 50,000 or more laying hens, which is about 80 percent of production. Producers with at least 3,000 but fewer than 50,000 laying hens must comply with the new rule by July 2012. Earlier this year, the FDA issued guidance, aimed at helping small businesses comply with the egg rule. For more information, see Egg Safety Final Rule.

Okay, back to the egg recall:
Wright County Egg Expands Nationwide Recall of Shell Eggs Because of Possible Health Risk
Wright County Egg eggs are packaged under the names Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp.
The following statement was released by officials of Wright County Egg regarding the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) investigation of potential incidence of Salmonella enteritidis (SE).
Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa is expanding its voluntary recall (original recall date: August 13, 2010) of specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by their farms because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Eggs affected by the expanded 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.
Eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Albertsons, Farm Fresh, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Lund, Kemps and Pacific Coast. Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, and loose eggs for institutional use and repackaging) with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1720 and 1942.
Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1720 223.
Eggs under the August 13, 2010 recall are packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, and loose eggs for institutional use and repackaging) with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946. There have been confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses relating to the shell eggs and traceback investigations are ongoing.
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.

NuCal Foods Conducts Recall of Shell Eggs Supplied from Wright County Egg Because of Possible Health Risk:
The following statement was released by officials of NuCal Foods of Ripon, California regarding the voluntary recall of shell eggs supplied from Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa.
NuCal Foods is voluntarily recalling specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg and packaged by NuCal Foods because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Eggs affected by this recall were distributed to food wholesalers and retailers in California and Nevada. NuCal Foods received these eggs from Wright County Egg which were then packaged into 5-dozen overwrapped retail units. In addition to those products listed in the original Wright County Egg media statement dated August 13, 2010, the following products are being recalled:
Product Description UPC Plant Number Julian Dates
Bayview Large 5dz 7-17544-30172-1 P-1686 142-149
Mountain Dairy Medium 5dz 0-11110-89969-9 P-1951 193-208
Nulaid Medium 5dz 0-71230-02140-0 P-1091 167-174
Nulaid Medium 5dz 0-71230-02140-0 P-1951 195-210
Sun Valley Medium 5dz 6-48065-11432-6 P-1951 195-209
Dates and codes can be found printed on the overwrap film. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example P-1686 142. Wright County Egg’s media statement indicates that there have been confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses relating to shell eggs from Wright County Egg, and traceback investigations are ongoing.

COUNTRY Eggs, Inc. Initiates Voluntary Recall of Large AA Loose 15 dozen Fresh Shell Eggs Because of Possible Health Risk:
The following statement was released by officials of Country Eggs, Inc. regarding the voluntary recall of shell eggs supplied from Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa.
Country Eggs, Inc. is voluntary recalling specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Eggs affected by the recall were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Arizona and Nevada. Eggs were packaged under the Country Eggs, Inc brand name in 15 dozen bulk pack with the identifying plant code of P 1946 and P 1026. Julian code dates are 216-221. Dates and codes can be found on the box label.

Luberski Inc., Initiates Voluntary Recall of Large Fresh Shell Eggs Because of Possible Health Risk:
The following statement was released by officials of Luberski Inc. regarding the voluntary recall of shell eggs supplied from Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa:
Luberski Inc. is voluntarily recalling specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Eggs affected by the recall were distributed to food wholesalers, retail centers and food service companies in California and Nevada. Eggs were packaged under the CRF 20 and 30 egg overwrap units and Loose 15 dozen units. No Retail Carton Eggs of any kind are affected including CRF and Alta Dena Brand Name. Loose 15 dozen units affected were under Alta Dena Dairy, Driftwood Dairy, Hidden Villa Ranch, and Challenge Dairy from plant codes p-1026, p-1413, and p-1946. Julian code dates are 209-224. Dates and codes can be found on the label.

Egg recall renews calls for movement on food safety legislation
The recalls of salmonella contaminated shell eggs has led to renewed calls for food safety legislation to move forward in the Senate, as the number of related illnesses looks likely to grow, according to officials. Food Safety Director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest Caroline Smith DeWaal said in a statement: “This outbreak demonstrates the need for a food safety cop-on-the-beat. FDA needs a strong inspection force with the tools to mandate recalls, impose civil and criminal penalties, and require testing at farms and production facilities. The agency should be able to impose fines for violations when they find them, detain and recall food, and impose enhanced criminal penalties when companies intentionally violate the law, resulting in harm to the public. The Senate should move immediately to pass S. 510 and Congress should move a bill that incorporates the strongest enforcement provision of each bill promptly to the President’s desk for signature.”
The Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) is currently pending consideration in the Senate after it unanimously passed committee in November. A companion bill, the Food Safety Enhancement Act, passed through the House in July last year. Senator Tom Harkin, one of six members who last week released a proposal on the Food Safety Modernization Act, said : “This outbreak is just further proof of how quickly a food borne illness can multiply across states, sickening Americans and causing widespread distrust over the safety of our food system…The bill pending in Congress would offer additional protection against such an outbreak in the future.”

Update 29th August
Cal-Maine Foods Clarifies Previous Statement on Egg Recall:
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) has issued the following clarification regarding the previously announced voluntary recall of shell eggs supplied from Hillandale Farms of Iowa. This information does not increase the total number of eggs which Cal-Maine purchased from Hillandale Farms, which was previously announced on August 20, 2010. Cal-Maine immediately contacted its customers to ensure that any eggs included in the recall were withdrawn from the marketplace.
Cal-Maine has voluntarily recalled specific Julian dates of shell eggs purchased on May 31, 2010, from Hillandale Farms of Iowa and re-packaged by Cal-Maine’s Benton County, Arkansas, facility, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Potentially affected eggs that were received by Cal-Maine at this facility total approximately 24,000 dozen. The affected eggs were distributed to food wholesalers and retailers in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Cal-Maine’s Benton County, Arkansas, facility received these eggs from Hillandale Farms of Iowa, which were then re packaged into large loose 5, 15 and 30 dozen units. The following products were included in this recall:
Wagon Trail Large 5 dz. UPC Code -8-13905-00074-3 1382 150 6/28/10
West Creek Large Loose 15 and 30 dz. 1382 150 6/28/10
Generic Large Loose 15 dz. 1382 152, 153, 155, 160, 161, 164, 6/30/10 to 7/12/10
Generic Large Loose 30 dz. 1382 152,160, 167, 175 6/30/10 to 7/23/10
Sam’s Bulk Pack 15 dz. UPC Code – 0 28621-99398-3 1382 151,152,158,159,160, 164, 168 6/29/10 to 7/16/10
Plant numbers and Julian dates can be found printed on the individual boxes. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example P1382-150. None of the eggs were produced in Cal-Maine’s facilities or operations, and the affected product has since passed stated expiration dates. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing and sale of fresh shell eggs. The Company, which is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, currently is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States and sells the majority of its shell eggs in approximately 29 states across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

Moark, LLC, Recalls Eggs Supplied From Hillandale Farms of Iowa:
Moark, LLC, of Fontana, California, is recalling specific lots of shell eggs produced by Hillandale Farms of Iowa and packaged by Moark, LLC, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Potentially affected eggs that were received by Moark total approximately 24,300 dozen. Moark repackaged the eggs for retail customers (under the brand names Albertsons, Yucaipa Valley, Farmer’s Gems and Mountain Dairy), as well as providing unbranded eggs to foodservice customers. The eggs were sold by Moark to retail and wholesale customers in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The products being recalled have the following information stamped on the egg packaging:
Yucaipa Valley Large 1 dozen 1156 187 (July 6, 2010)
Albertsons Large 1 dz and 18 ct 1156 187 (July 6, 2010)
Mountain Dairy Large 1 dozen 1156 187 (July 6, 2010)
Farmer’s Gems Large 1 dozen 1156 187 (July 6, 2010)
Large Loose foodservice pack 1156 187 (July 6, 2010)
Julian Dates and Plant Numbers (which begin with the letter P) can be found printed on the egg packaging. For example 187 P-1156.
“Moark has been carefully monitoring the situation with Hillandale Farms of Iowa, and once we were notified that Moark had received eggs from this producer, we immediately notified customers to ensure that any eggs included in the recall were withdrawn from the marketplace. We also immediately informed the Food and Drug Administration,” said Craig Willardson, President and CEO of Moark, LLC. “None of the eggs were produced at Moark facilities or operations,” he added.
Consumers who believe they may have purchased potentially affected shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call the toll-free telephone number 866-757-EGGS (3447) for more information or visit www.eggsafety.org9.
Hillandale Farms of Iowa’s recall press release indicates that there have been laboratory-confirmed Salmonella Enteriditis illnesses with the shell eggs from Hillandale Farms of Iowa, and the investigation is ongoing. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.
For a complete listing of known brands, codes and dates involved in the egg recall, please visit the Egg Safety Center website at www.eggsafety.org10. The Egg Safety Center and the FDA recommend that eggs should be fully cooked until both the yolks and the whites are firm, and consumers should not eat foods that may contain raw or undercooked eggs. For more information on proper handling and preparation of eggs and answers to other frequently asked questions, visit www.eggsafety.org11.
Moark is a leading marketer of shell eggs in the United States through a quality supply/distribution network of branded, specialty, and private label eggs in key locations.

NuCal Foods Recalls Eggs Supplied from Hillandale Farms of Iowa:
NuCal Foods of Ripon, California is recalling specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by Hillandale Farms of Iowa and packaged by NuCal Foods because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Eggs affected by this recall were distributed to food wholesalers and retailers in California and Nevada. NuCal Foods received these eggs from Hillandale Farms of Iowa which were then packaged into 5-dozen and 2.5-dozen overwrapped retail units. In addition to those products listed in the original Hillandale Farms of Iowa media statement dated August 20, 2010, the following products are being recalled:
Bayview Large 5dz 7-17544-30172-1 P-1686K 195-196
Becky Large 5dz 0-72279-00010-4 P-1292 & P-1091 139-161
Cal Egg Large 5dz 0-72279-00110-1 P-1292 & P-1091 139-194
Lucerne Large 5dz 0-21130-03155-9 P-1292 139-210
Mi Pueblo Large 5dz 4-01660-00100-8 P-1292 & P-1091 139-161
Nulaid Large 2.5dz 0-71230-02130-1 P-1292 & P-1091 139-161
Nulaid Large 5dz 0-71230-02120-2 P-1292 & P-1091 139-210
Plant numbers and Julian dates can be found printed on the overwrap film. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example P-1686K 195.
Hillandale Farms of Iowa’s recall press release indicates that there have been laboratory-confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses with the shell eggs from Hillandale Farms of Iowa, and the investigation is ongoing.
Consumers who believe they may have purchased these shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. Consumers with questions should call 1-877-249-8224 or visit www.eggsafety.org9.