Salmonella Egg Farm on Notice From FDA
One of two Iowa egg producers implicated in the multi-state Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that sickened more than 1,600 people from May to September has been warned by the Food and Drug Administration to take "prompt corrective action'' to clean up or face sanctions.
The actions against Quality Egg LLC of Galt, Iowa, could include, but are not limited to, seizure and/or injunction. Quality Egg is parent company of Wright County Egg.
Salmonella lawsuit attorneys from PritzkerOlsen, P.A., observed some of the conditions cited in the FDA letter on a recent inspection tour and actually filmed live mice in the facilities. The firm has filed an egg lawsuit against Quality Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa in connection with the outbreak that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described as the largest Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak on record. If you or a loved one is a victim of this outbreak and need legal representation, call our office at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page..jpg)
The FDA warning letter states: "You should take prompt and aggressive actions to eliminate the Salmonella Enteritidis contamination and the observations described in this letter. Failure to take prompt corrective action may result in regulatory action being initiated by the Food and Drug Administration without further notice.''
Quality Egg initially was tied to the outbreak when FDA laboratory analysis of feed samples at the company proved positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella. The FDA letter said the company's eggs are still being packed or held under insanitary conditions "whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or... injurious to health.''
The letter states the company has failed to eliminate rodent harborages, wild birds in barns and pigeon roosts. The company also has failed to properly eliminate all sources of water in its manure pits and has failed to ensure that Salmonella is not introduced into or among poultry houses. Uncaged birds, for example, were using manure pits to access the egg laying areas and live maggots were observed.
Meanwhile, the FDA is allowing Hillandale Farms of Iowa to start shipping shell eggs again after a successful followup to violations found at inspection. Hillandale was the other company implicated by federal health officials in the outbreak.
