As Salmonella litigation proceeds in the egg outbreak associated with two Iowa egg farms, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing the findings of its investigation to evaluate what enforcement actions may be appropriate.
That statement from FDA Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein was made Wednesday in Washington, D.C., at a Congressional hearing on Salmonella in eggs. According to a transcript of the proceedings, Sharfstein said the agency found serious problems with pest control and manure handling when inspectors went to facilities operated by the DeCoster family. Those problems could have contributed to the spread of Salmonella, Sharfstein told the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Although the DeCosters identified contaminated feed as a likely culprit for the outbreak, Sharfstein said the FDA wasn't ready to point to a single source for the problem.
"We believe there are multiple potential sources of Salmonella Enteritidis on these farms," Sharfstein said.
Sharfstein urged the passage of the food safety bill that would give FDA additional authority to recall tainted products and require more inspections of food-processing facilities. According to Sharfstein, shell eggs from Wright County Egg were sold to distributors and wholesalers in 22 states, who then distributed the shell eggs further throughout the country and to Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Federal authorities have said more than 1,600 confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteriditis diagnosed since May 1 likely were caused by contaminated eggs from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa.
Salmonella egg victims are being represented by
PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a national food safety law firm that has established a
Salmonella claim center for those who have been sickened.
Salmonella egg lawyers for the firm are available for a free case consultation through the claim center or by calling direct at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE). Our firm over the years has collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning, including
Salmonella Enteritidis in eggs.
