Minneapolis, MN – Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker is calling on Wright County Egg, a Galt, Iowa egg producer, to provide information regarding its compliance with new federal rules meant to prevent Salmonella enteritidis contamination of shell eggs.
“Hundreds of people have contracted Salmonella enteritidis infections after eating eggs,” stated Pritzker. “These victims, who have endured severe illness, deserve to know why any Salmonella prevention measures used by Wright County Egg were not effective.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hundreds of people contracted Salmonella enteritidis infections (PFGE pattern JEGXX01.0004) associated with consumption of eggs produced by Wright County Egg. Many of these cases are connected to restaurant outbreaks of salmonellosis, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
In response to this outbreak, on August 13, 2010, Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa conducted a nationwide voluntary recall of over 200 million shell eggs. The recalled eggs were sold to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. These companies distributed the eggs nationwide.
July 9, 2010, during the Wright County Egg Salmonella outbreak, a new rule for egg producers went into effect—Federal Register Final Rule (July 9, 2009, 74 FR 33030): Prevention of Salmonella enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation. The final rule, now codified at 21 CFR Part 118, requires shell egg producers to implement measures to prevent Salmonella enteritidis (SE) from contaminating eggs on the farm and from further growth during storage and transportation, and requires these producers to maintain records concerning their compliance with the rule and to register with FDA.
According to the FDA, the final rule will reduce illnesses and deaths associated with Salmonella enteritidis by reducing the risk that shell eggs are contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis. If Wright County Egg was complying with the measures of this rule, the effectiveness of the rule should be questioned.
Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker is calling on Wright County Egg to publically state whether it was following the new egg safety rule during the recalled egg product production dates, May 16 through Aug. 13. According to Pritzker, “This recall – which involves over 200 million eggs – has the potential to cause significant illness in humans. Policy makers, regulators and the consuming public have a right to know whether the company was following the most up-to-date safety rules. It seems odd and perhaps ironic that at precisely the time the new rules are supposed to go into effect, a massive recall occurs. The public has a right to know why this happened.”
Pritzker Olsen law firm, one of the nation’s leading food safety law firms, is investigating the outbreak associated with eggs produced by Wright County Egg. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Pritzker Olsen law firm at (612) 338-0202. Pritzker Olsen offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.
Source: Pritzker Olsen