newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Food retailers and manufacturers are rushing to tell consumers that their products are safe amid a nationwide recall of 380 million eggs that may be infected with salmonella bacteria.

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it hadn't yet found clear evidence of contamination, although heavy rainfall near the Iowa company that produced the eggs may have raised the risk of salmonella infestation from rodents.

Wright County Egg Co. of Galt, Iowa, on Wednesday expanded the recall to 380 from 228 million eggs recalled last week. The company is owned by Jack DeCoster, whose companies in the past have been fined by federal regulators for allegedly hiring illegal immigrants and for other alleged workplace violations.

According to wsj.com, a company spokeswoman said in a statement that the recall was a voluntary measure and that the company continued to fully cooperate with the FDA.

There are differing opinions elsewhere as the egg recall continues. The salmonella outbreak that sickened hundreds and led to the recall will likely grow, federal health officials said Thursday.

That's because illnesses occurring after mid-July may not be reported yet, said Dr. Christopher Braden, an epidemiologist with the federal Centers for Disease Control.

According to an Associated Press report at the Daily Record, almost 2,000 illnesses from the strain of salmonella linked to the eggs were reported between May and July, about 1,300 more than usual, according to Braden. No deaths have been reported. The CDC is continuing to receive information from state health departments as people report their illnesses.

"I would anticipate that we will be seeing more illnesses reported likely as a result of this outbreak," said Braden. The recall of 380 million eggs from Iowa's Wright County Egg is one of the largest shell egg recalls in recent history.

Locally, an official in New Jersey says residents have little reason to be scared. Although the eggs involved were sold under a lengthy list of brand names in many states, no rise in egg-related salmonella has been noticed in the region.

"Nothing yet in our state," Marilyn Riley, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services said to philly.com.

According to medscape.com, the Aug. 18 recall includes eggs with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1720 and 1942. They were sold under the brand names: Albertson, Boomsma's, Farm Fresh , Glenview, James Farms, Kemps, Lund, Mountain Dairy, Pacific Coast and Ralph's.

The form of salmonella tied to the outbreak can be passed from chickens that appear healthy. And it grows inside eggs, not just on the shell, Dr. Braden noted.

Thoroughly cooking eggs can kill the bacteria. But health officials are recommending people throw away or return the recalled eggs.

More information can be found at www.eggsafety.org.