16 August 2010
Wright County Egg of Galt is recalling specific Julian dates (those represented by one number) of shell eggs produced by its farms because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, the company said in a statement regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's on-farm records review and egg testing for salmonella.
Eggs affected by the recall were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, California and Colorado.
These companies distribute nationwide.
There have been confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses relating to the shell eggs and traceback investigations are ongoing, according to Wright County Egg.
Seven people in Minnesota have been sickened with salmonella in an outbreak linked to Wright County Egg.
Four of those cases originated at the Muffuletta restaurant in St. Paul last month; the other three were traced to the Kingdom Buffet in Rochester in May.
The Department of Health said there are potentially many more salmonella cases in Minnesota related to the Wright County Egg recall. It's estimated that for every confirmed case of salmonella, there are 38 cases that go unreported.
As a precautionary measure, Wright County Egg also has decided to divert its existing inventory of shell eggs to a breaker, where they will be pasteurized to kill any salmonella bacteria present.
The recall is of shell eggs only. Other egg products produced by Wright County Eggs are not affected.