Egg Recall Update: Salmonella Outbreak Sparks Lawsuits and Investigations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that over 1300 cases of salmonella enteritidis have been reported in over 10 different states recently. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported as a result of this outbreak as yet, although the disease is potentially fatal, especially in those with weak immune systems. Most of these reported cases of salmonella enteritidis are believed to be linked to two eggs supplying companies, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa, which are both facing a growing number of lawsuits as a result of these outbreaks.

The two companies at the center of this controversy, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, have recently recalled over a half a billion eggs between them, which were distributed nationwide and are suspected to be contaminated with salmonella. The two companies are also said to share close links, with Wright County Egg being owned by Austin DeCoster, who also owns another Company, Quality Egg, which supplies chicks as well as feed to Hillandale Farms.

Information has also come to light that the DeCoster family operation, one of the 10 largest egg producers in the country, has faced a large number of complaints, reprimands and penalties over the last twenty years, for poor standards and performance.

In a new twist to this story, the FDA, which is responsible for overseeing inspections of shell eggs distributed in the US, is also set to be questioned by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the Chair of the House Appropriations Agriculture Sub-Committee, as to how far federal regulators were aware of the DeCoster operation’s poor compliance record, and what measures had been taken by federal regulators in order to ensure safety at the DeCoster facilities.