Green Eggs and Salmonella, Anyone?

As a person who does not eat eggs except in baked goods (I will not eat them on a plane, not in the rain or while in Spain…), I was not really affected by the latest egg recall. However, I was still disturbed at the apparent lack of FDA oversight and the sickening images at the Iowa egg farms.

Just in case you may have been under a rock or hiking the Appalachian Trail for the last month, this news report provides a good summary of the egg recall: ABC News Egg Recall. The news clips of dead chickens, maggots and rodents at the Iowa egg farm responsible for one of the largest salmonella outbreaks was enough to make any one question, “Just who is inspecting these farms?” Certainly the FDA has been negligent in enforcing regulation. Jack DeCoster, the man who owned the Iowa farm, had been responsible for a salmonella outbreak in Maine resulting in a ban of his farm’s eggs in that state. Why was he allowed to move to another state where he was given the opportunity to create yet another salmonella outbreak?

Take a look at this article for the lame answers and excuses DeCoster provided during the congressional hearing.

In February 2008, the United Egg Producers sent a letter to the FDA practically begging them to cut egg farm inspections because they believed the relatively low threat of salmonella was not worth spending the FDA’s limited resources. Take a look at the United Egg Producers letter, and you may also conclude this is a case of the proverbial fox asking to watch the hen house.

When anyone is asked the question, “How do you want your eggs?” no matter the preferred method of cooking (sunny-side up, hard-boiled, scrambled or poached), everyone would have the same answer: “Salmonella-free, please.”

Next week, I’ll address the issue of battery cages used in factory farms.

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