The following statement was released by officials of Wright County Egg regarding its voluntary recall of some shell eggs in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA).
Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa is adding one California-distributed brand label – Cardenas Market – to its voluntary recall of August 13, 2010 of specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by their farms because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.
The eggs affected were ultimately distributed to Cardenas Market stores in California and Nevada. They were packaged in 60-egg cases that were overwrapped with plastic. Although the Cardenas Market label wasn't named in the original recall announcement, Cardenas was immediately notified at the time of the original recall, and product in distribution or in stores has been quarantined, returned or destroyed. Eggs included in the recall are labeled with plant number 1026 and Julian dates ranging from 136 to 228.
Dates and codes can be found printed on the label. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1026 228.
There have been confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses relating to the shell eggs and traceback investigations are ongoing.
Wright County Egg is fully cooperating with FDA's investigation by undertaking this voluntary recall. Our primary concern is keeping Salmonella out of the food supply and away from consumers. As a precautionary measure, Wright County Egg also has decided to divert its existing inventory of shell eggs from the recalled plants to a breaker, where they will be pasteurized to kill any Salmonella bacteria present.
Consumers who believe they may have purchased these shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. This recall is of shell eggs only. Other egg products produced by Wright County Eggs are not affected. Consumers with questions should visit www.eggsafety.org9 or call Wright County's toll-free information number (866-272-5582), which contains a message outlining recall instructions for consumers.
Source: FDA
