OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) recommends against eating any eggs produced by Daizen Farms of Burlington, WA. The eggs were produced by hens that ate feed contaminated with rodent droppings. Laboratory testing confirms that the feed contained Salmonella.
The eggs were also packaged under insanitary conditions on the farm. WSDA inspectors observed rodent droppings inside an egg-washing machine during use.
To date, public health officials have linked no human illnesses to the eggs. Consumers are reminded to thoroughly cook all eggs, regardless of source, to reduce the risk of food borne illness.
Daizen Farm eggs are sold in 15-dozen flats and one-dozen consumer cartons. None of the egg packages contain any date. The WSDA warning applies to all eggs produced by Daizen Farms currently in food establishments or private homes.
The one-dozen egg consumer cartons are labeled with the Daizen branding. These consumer cartons are most frequently sold to customers directly from the farm.
The boxes containing the 15-dozen egg flats are not marked with any branding or other identifying information, a violation of state labeling requirements. The boxes are most frequently sold to independent Asian grocery stores and restaurants in Skagit, Snohomish, and King Counties.
While the farm’s distribution records may be inaccurate or incomplete, WSDA has obtained some specific distribution information from Daizen Farms. Consumers who are concerned that they may have purchased Daizen eggs should ask the store where the eggs were purchased.
WSDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cooperated on a joint investigation of Daizen Farms after becoming aware of heavy rodent activity during a routine FDA inspection. On March 8, WSDA placed an embargo on all eggs currently at the farm to prevent their sale to the public. WSDA also placed embargoes on all future eggs produced by the same flock, as well as all chicken feed at the farm.
On March 19, the FDA laboratory in Bothell, WA confirmed that a sample of chicken feed collected during the inspection tested positive for Salmonella. The confirmation of Salmonella-contaminated chicken feed increases the likelihood that the laying hens are infected with Salmonella.
For immediate release: March 20, 2012 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Contact: Jason Kelly (360) 902-1815 P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, Washington 98504-2560
Visit our website at: http://agr.wa.gov/
Washington State Department of Agriculture News Release
A person infected with Salmonella usually has a fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated foods. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without antibiotic treatment. However, the diarrhea can be severe, and the person may be ill enough to require hospitalization. Anyone who thinks they may have become sick due to eating these eggs should contact their health care provider.
Consumers can always reduce their chances of getting sick from eggs by: Keeping eggs refrigerated at ≤40° F (≤4° C) at all times. Buy eggs only from stores or other suppliers that keep them refrigerated. Discarding cracked or dirty eggs. Washing hands and all food contact surface areas (counter tops, utensils, dishes, and cutting boards) with soap and water after contact with raw eggs. Cooking eggs thoroughly until both the yolk and white are firm. Recipes containing eggs mixed with other foods should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Additional egg safety information for consumers is available from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: Washington State Department of Agriculture