LANSING, Ill. — Just 30 days after the country's largest egg recall, demand for pasteurized shell eggs remains sky-high. To meet this demand, National Pasteurized Eggs is launching a new pack for the $500 billion convenience store marketplace.
Marketed under the Safest Choice label, the twin pack features six salmonella-free shell eggs packaged specifically for convenience stores. Shelf life for these best-selling eggs is more than double than that of non-pasteurized eggs, making it a strong choice for convenience stores. In a blind taste test by the Chicago Tribune, Safest Choice Pasteurized Shell Eggs were preferred two out of three times, over farm-fresh eggs.
Consumer demand for safe eggs has driven retail sales of pasteurized shell eggs to record highs in the month since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended their use to prevent illness from egg-related Salmonella Enteritidis.
"Long available as the safe choice for food service providers, pasteurized shell eggs are fast becoming the first choice for consumers as they provide protection from Salmonella without compromising on taste or forcing the consumer to cook their eggs hard," said Jay Berglind, vice president of business development, National Pasteurized Eggs. "The extended shelf life combined with consumer demand will make them a profit center for convenience stores."
Safest Choice eggs are "slow-pasteurized" in all-natural warm water baths while still in their shells to destroy Salmonella, but protect the farm fresh taste of the egg. This innovative technology is recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to inactivate Salmonella and the Avian Influenza Virus. NPE offers both cage-free and traditional eggs produced with its patented "Safest Choice" technology, and is the world's largest producer of pasteurized shell eggs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avoidance of Salmonella is crucial for at-risk populations such as seniors, children under 10, pregnant women, diabetics and other people with compromised immune systems. Use of pasteurized shell eggs makes sure the eggs served are safe, and also protects the kitchen from dangerous cross contamination.
Safest Choice eggs are delivered fresh to all 50 states. For more information or to find a retailer, visit www.safeeggs.com.
Source: National Pasteurized Eggs