More Salmonella Cases Tied To Huge Egg Recall In Virginia

More Virginia illnesses have been reported after 206 million eggs were recalled for salmonella from Food Lion, Walmart and other stores. Health officials with the Centers for Disease Control has updated its tally of consumers sickened by the bacteria, and Virginia and New York have the most cases to date, with eight people in each state infected in the outbreak. Twelve more ill people from five states were confirmed since a mid-April report put the number of ailing consumers at 23 cases nationwide, five of them were in Virginia.

Eggs distributed from a farm in Hyde County, North Carolina, were likely contaminated with salmonella, prompting a recall, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More than 200 millions eggs from Rose Acre Farms have been voluntarily recalled nationally and et illnesses have been reported to date. The eggs were distributed to North Carolina, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Those infected with salmonella can experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The FDA warns that salmonella can sometimes enter the bloodstream and cause more serious illnesses.

The eggs were sold under several brands, including Crystal Farms, Great Value and Country Daybreak; they have been sold in several stores, including Food Lion and Walmart. No deaths have been reported because of the outbreak, the CDC says.

The FDA says anyone who may have bought the affected eggs can return them for a refund. For more information, contact the company at (855) 215-5730 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Ill people range in age from 1 to 90 years, with a median age of 65. Fifty percent of ill people are female. Of 28 people with information available, 11 (39%) have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported, the Centers for Disease Controlsays.

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, serve, or sell recalled eggs produced by Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm. Throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

These eggs were sold under multiple brand names, including Coburn Farms, Country Daybreak, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms, Publix, Sunshine Farms, and Sunups.

Check egg cartons for the following numbers: P-1065 (the plant number) and another set of numbers between 011 and 102 (the Julian date), or, for Publix and Sunups egg cartons, plant number P-1359D and Julian date 048A or 049A with Best By dates of APR 02 and APR 03.

Consumers should wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where recalled eggs were stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.

Always handle and cook eggs safely to avoid foodborne illness from raw eggs. It is important to handle and prepare all fresh eggs and egg products carefully.

• Eggs should be cooked until both the yolk and white are firm. Scrambled eggs should not be runny.
• Wash hands and items that came into contact with raw eggs—including countertops, utensils, dishes, and cutting boards—with soap and water.

You can find the eggs affected by the recall here.

Includes reporting by Patch Editor Feroze Dhanoa
Image via Shutterstock