Eggs from Small Producer Recalled After Link to Salmonella Infections

Good Earth Egg company is issuing a recall of shell eggs after they were linked to a Salmonella outbreak.  In this outbreak, 8 individuals have become infected with Salmonella Oranienburg 

 

 Good Earth had also issued a recall in January of this year, again for Salmonella.   A warning letter issued by FDA in February indicates that the company did not have a Salmonella control program in place and faced sanitary issues including rodent control.

 

If Salmonella is not controlled within the flocks and the facility, the eggs will have Salmonella. It would be fine if eggs were handled and cooked by the consumers, but consumer don't.  Eggs are often served undercooked such as sunny side up.  They are not handled in a way that protects against cross contamination.  As studies have shown, eggs from small producers are more likely to have Salmonella present.

 

 

CDC Outbreak

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/Oranienburg-10-16/index.html

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg Infections Linked to Shell Eggs

Posted October 3, 2016 5:45 PM ET

  

At A Glance

Case Count: 8  (http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/oranienburg-10-16/epi.html)

States: 3  (http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/oranienburg-10-16/map.html)

Deaths: 0

Hospitalizations: 2

Recall: No

Highlights

Read the Advice to Consumers and Retailers >>(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/oranienburg-10-16/advice.html)

• CDC, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Department of Agriculture, several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections.
• Eight people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Oranienburg were reported from three states.
• Two ill people were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported.
• Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback investigations identified shell eggs distributed by Good Earth Egg Company of Bonne Terre, Missouri as the likely source of the infections in this outbreak.
• CDC recommends that consumers do not eat and restaurants and retailers do not serve or sell shell eggs distributed by Good Earth Egg Company at this time.
• Eggs distributed by Good Earth Egg Company were sold under different brand names. If you don't know if your eggs were distributed by Good Earth Egg Company, ask the store where you bought them or the restaurant where you are eating them.
• This investigation is ongoing, and we will update the public when more information becomes available.

FDA Recall Notice

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm523727.htm

Good Earth Egg Company Voluntarily Recalls Shell Eggs Because of a Possible Health Risk

For Immediate Release

October 3, 2016

 

Contact

 Consumers Good Earth Egg Company, LLC goodeartheggco@hotmail.com

 

Announcement

  

Good Earth Egg Company, LLC of Bonne Terre, Missouri has announced a voluntary recall of its shell eggs because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which 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 (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection withSalmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

 

The Food and Drug Administration has notified Good Earth Egg that a link has been established between eggs distributed by our facility to cases of Salmonella illnesses in Missouri and surrounding states.

 

In light of this investigation, and with an abundance of caution, Good Earth Egg Company has initiated a voluntary recall of all shell eggs. Various sizes of shell eggs are packaged in the following ways:6-count cartons, 10-count cartons, 12-count cartons, 18-count cartons, 15 dozen cases, and 30 dozen cases. The dates and codes on the cartons and cases will include everything prior to and including date code 252 – Sell By 10/08/2016, with “Packed for” or “Produced for Good Earth Egg Company”

 

The Good Earth Egg Company recalled products were distributed throughout the Midwest, including Missouri, Illinois and Kansas, at the retail and wholesale level, institutions, restaurants and to walk-in customers. Good Earth eggs were sold at Dierbergs, Straubs, Midtowne Market and Price Chopper in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

 

Good Earth Egg Company is working with distributors and retailers to remove these products from wholesale suppliers and retail shelves. Consumers do not need to return the product to the store where it was purchased. Instead, consumers should discard any product and its container. Good Earth Egg Company will work directly with each consumer to manage replacement of its product.

 

Consumers with questions may contact Good Earth Egg Company, LLC at goodeartheggco@hotmail.com.

 

Good Earth Egg Company has released the following statement, “We are taking these steps because consumer safety is our top priority. As a third-generation family operated farm, we are solely focused on providing fresh, quality, healthy eggs to local consumers. Although no Good Earth Egg Company eggs have tested positive for Salmonella, we feel strongly that issuing a voluntary recall is the right thing to do. Good Earth Egg Company is working closely with the FDA to determine the root cause of the potential contamination.”