Latest news with #Salmonellaenteritidis
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Bird flu: worry not, it is safe to eat eggs and chicken
There is no bird flu in SA, but concerns over lack of imports may lead to shortages. The outbreak of salmonella and highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu in other parts of the world, has left South Africans wondering if the eggs and chicken available in stores are contaminated. This is after the egg producer, August Egg Company, in California, US, recalled about 1.7 million shell eggs due to the potential contamination with Salmonella enteritidis. The outbreak of salmonella in California comes weeks after the outbreak of bird flu in Brazil, which led to the department of agriculture banning all poultry imports from the country. ALSO READ: Will SA run out of beef and chicken? Animal disease hits SA's top producer — what it means for consumers Bacteria found in eggs The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) Egg Organisation has confirmed that there is no need for panic as it is safe to eat eggs and chicken. 'We confirm that there are no salmonella cases in South Africa that have caused people to be hospitalised,' said Sapa in a statement. According to Watt Poultry, the contaminated US eggs were distributed to stores in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois. They were distributed between 3 February and 6 May 2025, with sell-by dates from 4 March to 19 June 2025. So far, the outbreak has infected 79 people, with 21 requiring hospitalisation. Safe to eat eggs Salmonella is when a person gets diarrhoea and stomach pains from salmonella bacteria. It is also called salmonellosis to distinguish it from other illnesses caused by different forms of salmonella bacteria, such as typhoid fever. Sapa said it is still safe to consume eggs, as any cases of salmonella in the country will be reported by the department of health, together with the department of agriculture. Is there bird flu in SA? Sapa added that, according to its knowledge, there are no reported cases of bird flu in South Africa and any case will be officially reported by the government. Therefore, it is still safe to eat chicken and other poultry products. Most of the chicken available in the country is imported from Brazil. However, following the bird flu outbreak there, a ban has been placed on imports. The ban left the poultry industry divided over whether local poultry producers can produce enough chicken or if the ban would lead to a chicken shortage. ALSO READ: Egg prices increasing globally due to US shortage — should SA take advantage and export? Should SA worry about a chicken shortage? Sapa is standing firmly, stating that there will not be any chicken shortage due to the Brazil ban, as local producers can make up for the gap created by the ban. One of Sapa's reasons is that chicken is not eaten as frequently in winter, as in summer. Therefore, the additional supply of chicken should be sufficient to prevent shortages or price increases. Izaak Breitenbach, CEO of Sapa's Broiler Organisation, said: 'We are currently producing about 21.5 million chickens a week and the industry has the capacity to increase this by about another million birds a week.' The other side The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) and Eskort are standing side by side, saying SA will feel the gap created by the ban. Imameleng Mothebe, CEO of AMIE, said local producers cannot and will not be able to meet the gap in the supply of poultry offal (feet, gizzards and skins) and mechanically deboned meat (MDM), driving up prices and threatening the affordability and accessibility of basic protein for millions. 'With the current shortage of MDM, processed meat producers are facing cost surges as inventory levels are thinning and shelf prices are starting to reflect this reality,' she said. Higher prices Arnold Prinsloo, CEO of meat producer Eskort said they use MDM from Brazil to make polony, viennas, russians and braaiwors. The blanket ban on Brazil imports will bring production lines to a standstill before the end of June. 'Vulnerable families and thousands of school feeding schemes rely heavily on polony and there is a real danger of widespread hunger and malnutrition if Eskort and its competitors cannot sustain supplies,' Prinsloo said. He disputed claims that local producers can make up for the chicken shortfall. 'It may be true when it comes to fresh or frozen chicken, but the local market doesn't produce mechanically deboned meat in any significant quantity.' 'We rely on Brazil for 92% of our needs, which is why this is such a serious challenge.' NOW READ: Here are the economic and social impacts of bird flu
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Over 1.7 million eggs sold in 9 states voluntarily recalled due to salmonella concern
More than 1.7 million eggs are being recalled due to potential contamination with salmonella, a type of bacteria that can cause foodborne illness and, in rare cases, even death. August Egg Company is voluntarily recalling brown cage-free and brown organic eggs that were distributed between Feb. 3 and May 15, 2025, in nine states. The Hilmar, California-based company announced the recall Friday, according to an announcement shared on the Food and Drug Administration website. A salmonella outbreak linked to the recalled eggs has already sickened 79 people, with 21 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been no reports of deaths so far, the agency stated in a June 6 update. In a statement included in the August Egg Company's recall announcement, the company said, "This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes." "It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens," the company continued. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." FDA elevates tomato recall to highest risk level over potential salmonella contamination The company said it has since voluntarily halted egg distribution, stating in the recall announcement that it "is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time." The recalled eggs have a sell-by date between March 4 and June 4, 2025, and were sold at Food 4 Less, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Raleys, Ralphs, Safeway, Save Mart, and Smart & Final stores in California and Nevada. Additional recalled eggs with a sell-by date between March 4 and June 19, 2025, were sold at Walmart store locations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and Wyoming. Recalled eggs bear the plant code number P-6562 or CA-5330 with Julian dates between 32 to 126 printed on one side their fiber or plastic cartons or packages. A full list of recalled eggs and photos of their packaging is available on the FDA website. The CDC advises anyone with recalled eggs not to eat them and to discard them or return them to the place of purchase. If recalled eggs came into contact with any surfaces or items, wash the areas with hot, soapy water or a dishwasher. Most people can recover from a salmonella infection after 4 to 7 days without treatment, but an infection can still be serious in certain populations, such as children under 5, pregnant women, older adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems. Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers sold to restaurants sickens 26 people, health officials warn Symptoms of a salmonella infection may include fever, gastrointestinal issues like abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, and can appear between six hours and six days after exposure to the bacteria. In rare cases, salmonella travel into the bloodstream and cause more severe illness, such as an infected aneurysm, reactive arthritis or endocarditis, where the inner lining of the heart and valves becomes inflamed. Anyone with symptoms of salmonella should also reach out to a doctor or health care provider if they have diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, have had diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving, bloody diarrhea, excessive vomiting or signs of dehydration. Over 1.7 million eggs sold in 9 states voluntarily recalled due to salmonella concern originally appeared on
09-06-2025
- Health
Over 1.7 million eggs sold in 9 states voluntarily recalled due to salmonella concern
More than 1.7 million eggs are being recalled due to potential contamination with salmonella, a type of bacteria that can cause foodborne illness and, in rare cases, even death. August Egg Company is voluntarily recalling brown cage-free and brown organic eggs that were distributed between Feb. 3 and May 15, 2025, in nine states. The Hilmar, California-based company announced the recall Friday, according to an announcement shared on the Food and Drug Administration website. A salmonella outbreak linked to the recalled eggs has already sickened 79 people, with 21 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been no reports of deaths so far, the agency stated in a June 6 update. In a statement included in the August Egg Company's recall announcement, the company said, "This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes." "It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens," the company continued. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." The company said it has since voluntarily halted egg distribution, stating in the recall announcement that it "is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time." The recalled eggs have a sell-by date between March 4 and June 4, 2025, and were sold at Food 4 Less, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Raleys, Ralphs, Safeway, Save Mart, and Smart & Final stores in California and Nevada. Additional recalled eggs with a sell-by date between March 4 and June 19, 2025, were sold at Walmart store locations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and Wyoming. Recalled eggs bear the plant code number P-6562 or CA-5330 with Julian dates between 32 to 126 printed on one side their fiber or plastic cartons or packages. A full list of recalled eggs and photos of their packaging is available on the FDA website. The CDC advises anyone with recalled eggs not to eat them and to discard them or return them to the place of purchase. If recalled eggs came into contact with any surfaces or items, wash the areas with hot, soapy water or a dishwasher. Most people can recover from a salmonella infection after 4 to 7 days without treatment, but an infection can still be serious in certain populations, such as children under 5, pregnant women, older adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of a salmonella infection may include fever, gastrointestinal issues like abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, and can appear between six hours and six days after exposure to the bacteria. In rare cases, salmonella travel into the bloodstream and cause more severe illness, such as an infected aneurysm, reactive arthritis or endocarditis, where the inner lining of the heart and valves becomes inflamed. Anyone with symptoms of salmonella should also reach out to a doctor or health care provider if they have diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, have had diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving, bloody diarrhea, excessive vomiting or signs of dehydration.
Newsweek
07-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Egg Recall Map Shows Warnings Issued to Customers in 9 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. August Egg Company has issued a recall on Friday for 1,700,000 brown cage-free and certified organic brown eggs due to potential fears of salmonella. Newsweek reached out to the company after hours via phone Friday night for comment. Why It Matters Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to the potential for the following: damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens. Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nine "major" food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts. The FDA warns that salmonella is an organism that could cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in frail or older people, young children and those with weakened immune systems. What To Know The FDA says in its alert that some of the eggs were distributed to grocery stores including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs. Those eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 15, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 4, 2025, in both California and Nevada. The FDA says additional eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 6, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 19, 2025, in Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming. The plant code numbers for the recalled eggs can be found printed on the package and are P-6562 or CA5330 with Julian Dates from 32 to 126, the FDA says. The Julian Dates are codes of three to seven digits and represent the date that the food was packaged or manufactured. "This recall is associated with an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses" the alert says, adding the investigation is related to products distributed in the nine states. The FDA alert also has a chart of the Julian Dates with corresponding item names. What People Are Saying The FDA alert, in part: "August Egg Company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time. Our firm has voluntarily been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any potential foodborne pathogens." August Egg Company in the FDA alert: "August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,700,000 dozen shell eggs processed at our California plant and sold to various grocery customers. This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes. "It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." What Happens Next Customers with additional questions can call August Egg Company at 1-800-710-2554 from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT and can also return the eggs to the original place of purchase for a refund.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Coimbatore restaurants adapt to ban on mayonnaise made from raw eggs
Following Tamil Nadu government's ban on the use of mayonnaise made from raw eggs, food business operators (FBOs) in Coimbatore have adapted to the regulation. The one-year ban, in effect since April 8, 2025, is intended to prevent food-borne illnesses caused by microbial contamination. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had cited risks associated with raw egg-based mayonnaise, which can be a breeding ground for pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes, especially when not stored at recommended temperatures (0–5°C). In a promising development, the ban appears to have had limited economic impact on eateries in Coimbatore due to the availability of alternatives and increasing public awareness. Many restaurant owners report that customers are more conscious about food safety and are willing to accept minor taste differences or price increases if safety is ensured. According to Ramesh Babu, General Manager of restaurant chain Cockraco in the city, the switch had been made well in advance as it moved to eggless mayonnaise over three years ago. 'We procure in bulk from trusted manufacturers. Any hotelier's concern must be to provide good quality and hygienic food. If the mayonnaise costs a bit more, the food item can cost a bit more too - a shawarma that was ₹ 100 can be sold at ₹ 120. Customers are willing to pay for safety', he said. He also noted a behavioural shift among consumers. 'Earlier, customers would request multiple servings of mayonnaise. That demand has reduced significantly', he said. Shruthi S., who runs Momolicious in the city, said her team uses boiled egg whites as a viable substitute. 'Customers initially noticed the difference in taste, but have adjusted. The business has not been affected economically. We have simply explored what we can do differently to ensure that quality and safety go hand in hand', she said. Customers in the city have also welcomed the change. K. Sneha, 22, from Pappanaickenpalayam said she could not find much difference in the taste of mayonnaise after the ban. T. Anuradha, FSSAI Designated Officer for Coimbatore, said various steps are being taken to raise awareness on the ban in the city. 'Awareness meetings were held with fast food sellers on Wednesday. Queries of the restaurant owners regarding the mayonnaise ban were resolved, with alternatives being suggested. They received training on essential safety measures, food storage practices and pest control, and were also informed that the FSSAI would take strict action against eateries not complying with the same', said Dr. Anuradha, adding that FBOs have been extremely cooperative towards the change.
