Egg Recall expands to 500 M

The egg recall has expanded  to include an astonishing 500,000,000 eggs and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that it may be expanded again. Keep your family safe with these latest recommendations from the FDA.

The recall now affects 17 states across the country, including Georgia. The FDA has identified more than 2,000 illnesses that stem from two farms in Iowa that share chickens, chicken feed and the same owner. Wright County Egg has received numerous citations in the past, including a 3.6 million dollar fine for health and safety violations and a $25,000 fine for cruelty of hens in 2006. In 2001, the company was named as a repeat violator. While the Food and Drug Administration has not yet pinpointed a cause for the salmonella outbreak, rodents, especially mice, are usually to blame. Margaret Hamburg, who was personally appointed by President Obama to head up the Food and Drug Administration, told CNN on Sunday, “There’s no question these farms were not operating with the standards of practice we consider responsible.” This morning, she added on Good Morning America today, “We’re not fully aware of the extent of the recall to protect consumers. We’ve had to extend it a bit, and we expect sub recalls. We are taking this very seriously.”

So, what’s a family to do in light of the expanded egg recall? Hamburg offers the following advice to parents and egg consumers: Keep all eggs refrigerated. Wash your hands before handling eggs. Cook all eggs thoroughly and wash your hands after handling eggs. “No more runny yokes for mopping up with toast,” she says.

Last week, the Georgia Division of Public Health issued the following statement, “We are not aware of any area in the state that has these eggs at this time. We have not detected any clusters of illness.” The most common symptoms of salmonella are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 8-72 hours of eating a contaminated product. It can be life threatening, especially to those with weakened immunity systems, the very young and the elderly.

Georgia grocer Publix said it has not been impacted by the recall, but many consumers have asked questions. It offers the following advice:
Don’t eat recalled eggs or products containing recalled eggs.
Keep shell eggs refrigerated at 45 degrees at all times.
Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
Wash hands, cooking utensils and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.
Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm.
Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than two hours.
Refrigerate unused or leftover egg-containing foods promptly.
Avoid eating raw eggs.
Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs.

Brand names that are believed to be linked to the outbreak are: Lucerne, Albertsons, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp. The recalled eggs were packaged between May and August of 2010. If you have suspect eggs, check the dates and codes stamped on the end of the carton. The plant numbers affected are P-1026, P-1413, and P-1946. The dates (recorded in the "Julian format") range from 136 to 225, according to a statement by the Egg Safety Center. For example, eggs in a carton marked with the number P-1026 137 should not be eaten.

So, what do you think? Are you cooking eggs for your family in light of the massive egg recall? Do you think the FDA should have acted more quickly? Be sure to leave your thoughts and comments below.