What You Need to Know About the Egg Recall

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A growing number of people nationwide are getting salmonella from the recent outbreak linked to the tainted eggs from Wright County Egg in Iowa. This is not a regional outbreak -- the number of eggs recalled is 380 million and growing.  

Recent FDA rules will make eggs safer, but unfortunately before the new July 9th rules large-scale egg producers did not have to comply with the safety measures that cover the refrigeration of stored and transported eggs, pasteurization, rodent control, cleanliness and a Salmonella prevention plan.

How to Identify Recalled Brands

The Egg Safety Center has a detailed chart on recalled eggs listing the brands, codes, and possible stores. You can find it on this link: Egg Safety Center: Recall -- Affected brands and descriptions.

This link gives complete instructions for reading the codes on the egg packaging. On the egg carton packaging, the Plant Number begins with a P. The Julian date is a 3-digit code.

Egg Safety and Cooking

I wouldn't want to risk cooking recalled eggs even though the egg safety gurus say that if you cook the eggs properly they should be safe. My big concern would be for cross-contamination that occurs if cooking utensils like pans and spatulas are not washed correctly.

Of course, the recall is changing daily. Before consuming eggs, please check for the most update information. 

Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms

Please consult your doctor for complete information on the illness, symptoms, and treatment. The recent egg recall involves Salmonella enteridis. Symptoms can occur from 6 to 72 hours after eating an egg. Some symptoms include lower abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache. You can also check these links for more information on symptoms and treatment:

• Salmonella Symptoms: Are My Kids Safe? -- Health Blog -- CBS News
• Salmonella Infections -- KidsHealth.org
• Salmonella infection: Symptoms -- MayoClinic.com
• CDC -- Salmonella enteritidis: General Information

For More Information

CDC -- Outbreak of Enteritidis Infections -- August 19, 2010 -- Salmonella

 This link includes detailed advice to consumers regarding identifying recalled eggs and how to handle eggs.

FDA: Consumers -- Playing it Safe With Eggs

FoodSafety.gov: Eggs and Egg Products

Egg Safety Center

Eggs, Salmonella, Recall: What You Need to Know -- LATimes.com

-- Chris Olson writes the blog Momathon Blog and is a freelance writer and illustrator. She also answers to the names of chief dog walker, grocery hauler, and "the one with the keys to the car."