Egg recall list widens to cover 380 million eggs distributed nationwide

Wright County Egg has expanded their voluntary recall of shell eggs to cover 380 million eggs distributed to food service vendors and distributors throughout the country, including Texas.  Previously, Wright County Egg had said over 250 million eggs had been recalled, in their August 13 press release.

The recalled eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Albertsons, Farm Fresh, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Lund, Kemps and Pacific Coast.  Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, and loose eggs for institutional use and repackaging) with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1720 and 1942.

Read the original article, "National egg recall announced August 13th -- check your fridge", here.

What about eggs sold in San Antonio?

The HEB grocery chain has assured San Antonio shoppers via its Facebook page that no eggs sold at HEB were included in the egg recall list.  However, shoppers of the New Braunfels Albertsons grocery store should double-check their recent egg purchases, as Albertsons was a brand name impacted by the recall.

What to do with your recalled eggs

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.  This is an important step, as typically only about 30% of any product involved in a recall ever gets taken back to the point of purchase.

Consumers with more questions can also visit eggsafety.org to access a list of frequently asked questions, as well as learn about basic food safety procedures involving eggs.

Don't succumb to recall fatigue

A recent story in the Washington Post showed that 12 percent of consumers surveyed had been aware of a food recall and ate the potentially tainted food anyway.   This is dangerous behavior, especially considering this week's egg recall revolves around a potential salmonella contamination.  Salmonella is a serious form of food poisoning that can result in potentially fatal infections in young children, the elderly, or any consumer with a weakened immune system. 

Salmonella: a growing problem

According to the Center for Disease Control, the U.S. has quadrupled its confirmed cases of salmonella infections since May 2010.  Here are some best practices you can take at home to avoid a case of salmonella poisoning.

• Don’t eat recalled eggs or products containing recalled eggs. Recalled eggs might still be in grocery stores, restaurants, and consumers' homes. Consumers who have recalled eggs should discard them or return them to their retailer for a refund. Individuals who think they might have become ill from eating recalled eggs should consult their health care providers.
• Keep shell eggs refrigerated at ≤45? F (≤7? C) at all times.
• Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
• Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.
• Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm and eaten promptly after cooking.
• Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
• Refrigerate unused or leftover egg- containing foods promptly.
• Avoid eating raw eggs.
• Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing) that calls for raw eggs.
• Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided, especially by young children, elderly persons, and person with weakened immune systems or debilitating illness.

More reading on this summer's food recalls

Frozen and canned food recall: how to keep your family safe

Froot Loops recall: Kelloggs explains what happened

Tylenol recalls Benadryl, Motrin, and more due to musty odor

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