Health Law

Bad stretch for egg producers continues; Cal-Maine recalls more eggs based on positive Salmonella tests

By Drew Falkenstein

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., one of the country's largest egg distributors, today learned from the FDA that one of its suppliers, Ohio Fresh Eggs, LLC, Croton, Ohio, had a routine environmental study sample that tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). Cal-Maine purchased approximately 24,000 dozen unprocessed eggs from Ohio Fresh that were processed and re-packaged by the Company's Green Forest, Arkansas, facility between October 9 and 12, 2010.  The eggs involved, which were not produced from Cal-Maine flocks, were distributed to food wholesalers and retailers in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.  

Despite the positive tests having occurred almost a month ago, Cal-Maine only learned of the Salmonella problem today.  There have been no confirmed SE illnesses related to the purchased eggs.

After learning of the contamination event, and working in cooperation with the FDA, Cal-Maine immediately notified its customers and recalled specific Julian dates of shell eggs because they have the potential to be contaminated with SE. The following packages were included in this recall.  Specific recall information can be found on Cal-Maine's website.  Kudos to Cal-Maine for acting quickly and decisively. 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on November 05, 2010 (boomark / email).