Egg Recall Expands: How to Tell Good from Bad

Hundreds of people have been sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs in three U.S. states and possibly more, and health officials on Wednesday dramatically expanded a recall to 380 million eggs.

The eggs in question came from the Wright County egg distributor in Iowa and have been distributed nationwide since May, reports CBS New medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton.

The recall affects eggs sold under the following brands: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms, and Kemps.

Brand Names and Plant Numbers
9 Signs of Salmonella Poisoning

The key information for consumers to look for is the plant number, which is displayed at the side of the carton, Ashton said. The numbers to avoid are 1026, 1413 and 1946. (The numbers are preceded by the letter "P." See photo at left).

The dates (recorded in the "Julian format") range from 136 to 225, according to a statement by the Egg Safety Center. For example, eggs in a carton marked with the number P-1026 137 should not be eaten.

Special Section: Dr. Jennifer Ashton
Dr. Jennifer Ashton's Twitter page

Ashton said that symptoms of salmonella, which is the most common bacterial food-borne illness in the country, range from fever to abdominal cramps to diarrhea. They usually present within 12 to 72 hours after exposure.

A lot of salmonella cases are underreported and most go away on their own. But if symptoms persist, Ashton advised seeing a doctor.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with state health departments to investigate the illnesses. No deaths have been reported, said Dr. Christopher Braden, a CDC epidemiologist involved in the investigation.

Initially, 228 million eggs were recalled but that number was increased to the equivalent of nearly 32 million dozen-egg cartons.

Minnesota, a state with some of the best food-borne illness investigators in the country, has tied at least seven salmonella illnesses to the eggs.

Other states have seen a jump in reports of the type of salmonella. For example, California has reported 266 illnesses since June and believes many are related to the eggs. Colorado saw 28 cases in June and July, about four times the usual number. Spikes or clusters of suspicious cases have also been reported in Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin.

[meerchickens]

thank god i have my own chickens and dont have to buy them in the store. I thinnk the goverement needs to shut these farms down in iowa 1 offense okay. Decoster has been convicted/fined at least 6 times by Goverment he should be allowed to sell anything to public again.

[tomrobla]

I like Denny's, three fried eggs sunny side up with a runny yoke.

[rlreecer]

I just want Jennifer to be my sugar momma

[jim3154]

Be careful! They just added more numbers, and this is the first time today that I see the eggs I bought are now on the recall, they really are slick, was careful checking yesterday and earlier in week, so now after I have used three eggs I am just warned of this new added recall....

[willyandlulu]

I think all of us would never eat again if we REALLY knew how our food came to our table. Eggs, beef, lamb, pork does not really matter, I think we are all alive by the grace of God. The hormones, the unsanitary conditions in all rhe packing houses, I think are nightmares. We should thank God we aren't all dead!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not talking about ethical farmers that produce healthy products, that work 14 hours a day. I'm talking about the greedy corporations that don't give a **** about the American consumer!!!

[willyandlulu]

Wow!!! Eggs aren't safe.
Let's try growing healthy hens on farms, feed them healthy food, and grow big, beautiful, fresh eggs, like our grandparents did! Good God, if America can't produce healthy eggs, what is to become of us. Eggs are part of almost all food. America we are DOOMED if we forsake are healthy egg producing hens!!!!!!!!!! What's next? Scarey. Stop the hormones and encaging egg producing hens. Greed is a horrible thing.

[stevex47]

3 states for 380 MILLION eggs?

[EggRecall]

think these are the only eggs that will get you sick. most people aren't even talking about this one, it's the worst of them all... http://www.facebook.com/people/Egg-Finger/100000898890889

[GTR5]

Perhaps they need another ICE raid to see how many illegals they still have employed.

[thanksgreed]

Ship 'em to Afghanistan.