An outbreak of Salmonella has been the cause of a massive egg recall. It began on August 13th, and on August 20th the recall expanded, increasing the total number of eggs recalled to over a half a billion nationwide. Along with Wright County Eggs, who recalled more than 380 million eggs on August 13th, Iowa’s Hillandale Farms recalled more than 170 million eggs on August 20th, after lab results came back with traces of salmonella enteritidis.
Thus far, over 1,000 cases of salmonella have been reported in connection with the recall and officials believe the number will steadily rise. Many University of Louisiana at Monroe students were in disbelief. Arkansas native and sophomore, Madison Slaughter said, “I was kind of freaked out! I love scrambled eggs and it made me nervous when I heard about the recall.” Sharing these sentiments was kinesiology major, Shanetra Harris states, “It makes you wonder. It makes you want to go home and throw all the eggs you have in your refrigerator out. It’s just nerve racking.”
The Food and Drug Administration continued their investigation, where they found traces of salmonella in feed that was used both by Wright County and Hillandale Farms. Wright County Eggs has willingly agreed to help as the FDA expands their review of the remaining feed and other possible sources, such as rodents or infected hens.
Although thoroughly cooking eggs may kill the infection, officials recommend that consumers return or dispose the recalled eggs. The most recent recalled eggs, which were sold between the months of April and August, were under the name brands of Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, Sunny Meadow, Wholesome Farms, West Creek and others. The eggs were distributed between at least twenty states, excluding Louisiana. However, nearby states Texas and Arkansas were listed as two of the states affected.
The FDA has heightened their investigation and plans to cover all expenses for egg farm’s to purchase 50,000 or more hens. They will also be improving the training of the agency’s inspectors and have already implicated new egg safety rules. Students on the ULM campus were more than content with the changes being made. Shreveport native, Baneita Smith states, “That’s good to know! At least they’re putting forth a better effort in preventing this from happening again.”
