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Improving Shell Egg Safety

Edited by: Mary Schroeder, M.S., R.D. & Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D., Colorado State - Fall 2004

On September 20, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new proposed regulation designed to significantly reduce the number of eggs contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). It is currently estimated that 118,000 illnesses per year are caused by consumption of SE-contaminated eggs. Eggs become contaminated with SE in the laying hen's reproductive tract, a process known as transovarian contamination. The proposed prevention measures are designed to reduce the likelihood of transovarian contamination and include the following:

• Provisions for procurement of chicks and pullets.
• A biosecurity program.
• A pest and rodent control program.
• Cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses that have had an environmental sample or egg test positive for SE.
• Refrigerated storage of eggs at the farm.
• Producer testing of the environment for SE in poultry houses. If the environment test is positive, FDA proposes that egg testing for SE be undertaken, and that, if the test is positive, the eggs be diverted from the table egg market.
• Identification of a person responsible for SE prevention at each farm.

The proposed rule will affect farms having 3,000 or more hens (some 4,100 farms) and is expected to cost $82 million per year to implement. The proposal is part of a coordinated effort by the FDA and USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) to more effectively promote egg safety for both shell eggs and egg products. It is designed to help achieve the agency's public health goal of a 50% reduction in SE outbreaks and incidence of salmonellosis cases by the year 2010. The final rule is expected following the 90-day comment period.

Source:

"FDA Proposes Further Action to Improve Farm-to-Table Shell Egg Safety." FDA News Release. September 20, 2004. Available at: www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01117.html

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