Urgent nationwide recall issued for millions of eggs that could KILL if eaten
The FDA revealed the recall of 1.7m brown cage-free and certified organic eggs this week that have already sickened 79 people and hospitalized 21.
Sold by California-based August Egg Company, the eggs are reported to be contaminated with salmonella — a bacteria that kills about 420 Americans every year.
The eggs were sold between February 29 and May 17 across seven states — California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska, Kentucky and New Jersey.
But officials fear that some of the affected cartons could still be lurking in refrigerators, putting others at risk. No deaths have been reported to date.
Customers are advised to throw out the recalled eggs or to return them to sellers for a full refund.
A total of 29 branded egg packages were included in the recall, including brands like Raleys, Simple Truth and Sun Harvest.
The packages have a Julian Date — time stamp indicating when they were packaged — between 32 and 126. The Julian Date can be found on the short side of the carton.
Salmonella is killed by cooking eggs because the bacteria cannot survive temperatures above 140F (60C).
But officials warn that cooking eggs sunnyside up is risky, saying this may lead to the top of the egg not being hot enough to kill the bacteria.
An investigation linked the outbreak to the eggs after 27 out of 30 patients interviewed reported consuming them before falling ill.
An inspection at the company's egg processing facility also detected salmonella at the factory — which was linked back to the outbreak.
Salmonella can contaminate eggs in two ways: It can enter an egg while it is forming inside a hen, or after an egg has been laid when the bacteria gets onto the shell after contact with feces and penetrates the shell.
If salmonella gets onto factor equipment, this can then spread it to multiple other eggs.
Experts say that cooking eggs thoroughly — such as via boiling or frying — will kill salmonella, which cannot survive temperatures above 140F (60C).
About 1.35million people are infected with salmonella in the US every year, estimates suggest, via consuming contaminated food or water.
Symptoms begin six hours to six days after infection, and include diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps and nausea and vomiting.
For many patients, the illness goes away on its own within a few days.
But in severe cases, it can lead to persistent diarrhea, high fevers, aches, headaches and lethargy.
In rare instances, the bacteria can also spread to other organs in the body — which can prove fatal.
An infected patient may spread the bacteria to others via touching contaminated surfaces, officials warn.
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The Independent
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