Recall of Shell Eggs

Re: RECALL OF SHELL EGGS

Dear Retail Food Facility Owner/Permittee:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are investigating Salmonella contamination in shell eggs from Wright County Egg, which is packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. Please see the reverse side of this letter for the CDPH’s official recall notice.

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 or destroy them. 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.org.

Additionally, please take the following actions to ensure recalled products are not sold for consumption:

• Contact your suppliers and wholesalers to determine if the products for sale at your retail market are safe or subject to being recalled by their manufacturers
• Remove from sale the recalled food products immediately. Recalled food products must not be offered for consumption to your customers or employees.
• Coordinate with your distributor on the return or disposal of recalled products. Discard products in a safe and secure manner
• Sign up for FDA recall updates at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html. Monitor the website for updated information.
• Document the disposition of products that are recalled within your facilities and maintain proper recordkeeping.
• Advise persons who think they may have become ill from the shell eggs to consult with their health care providers.
• If used, raw shell eggs should be fully cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees
• Fahrenheit. If shell eggs are served undercooked, a consumer advisory should be posted in accordance with the California Retail Food Code (Cal Code)
• Eggs should be purchased or received from a distributor refrigerated and stored refrigerated at ≤ 45 ̊ F (≤7 ̊ C) at all times.
• Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.

Please refer to FDA guidance at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm222501.htm for further information and updates on the shell egg recall.

Thank you for your food safety efforts.

“Environmental and public health through leadership, partnership and science”

CDPH WARNS CONSUMERS NOT TO EAT VARIOUS BRANDS OF WRIGHT COUNTY SHELL EGGS

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned consumers not to eat Wright County Eggs because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, a dangerous bacteria that may cause serious health problems.

Wright County Eggs are produced in Iowa and packaged under numerous brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg cartons, 18-egg cartons). The eggs

were processed by plants with identification numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946. Plant

identification codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number is preceded with the letter “P” and followed by a three-digit number. The recall applies to numbers 136 to 225. For example: P-1946 223 would be a carton subject to the recall. The Julian production dates in question, 136-225, convert to May 16

– August 13 calendar dates.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea which may be bloody. Most infected people recover within a week; however, some may develop complications that require hospitalization. Infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at highest risk for more severe illness.

Since May of this year there has been a nationwide increase in the number of infections due to a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. Outbreak investigations in several states, including California, have found that some of these illnesses were likely related to eating eggs or foods containing eggs prepared by restaurants or caterers who obtained shell eggs from Wright County Eggs. This particular strain, defined by a matching DNA pattern, is the most common Salmonella strain in the United States, and a common source may not explain all of the illnesses.

To prevent illness, consumers are advised to cook eggs thoroughly before eating to destroy any Salmonella or other bacteria. People who develop symptoms of Salmonella infection after consuming Wright County Eggs should consult their health care provider.

Eggs affected by this recall were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Wright County Eggs has initiated a voluntary recall. Consumers who believe they may have purchased these shell eggs should return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. This recall is of shell eggs only. Other egg products produced by Wright County Eggs are not affected.

www.cdph.ca.gov