Egg Recall

[lil fu fu girl]

Just wanted to post about the egg recall that has been broadened.

[celstu1]

I wonder if that is what I had last week. On Monday my girlfriend and her hubby got really sick, she is pregnant so she called her doctor and they said it was a virus, not food poisoning because she had hot & cold flashes and food poisoning does not give you that. The next night (tuesday) I got SUPER sick. It was not pretty. I was in SO much pain I couldn't even describe it. After I threw up countless times, harder than Ive ever felt before, every bone, muscle and joint in my body was screaming in pain. It was hard to walk, move, anything... drinking water even hurt my ears. I mean the pain was indescribable with how bad it was. This lasted ALL day weds and I went to bed around 730pm weds evening after taking 2000mg of tylenol with absolutely no results or dimished pain. I slept straight through until 8am thurs morning. When I woke up, it was like nothing happened. Everything was fine. I felt fine, pain was gone, fever gone, no more upset stomach, nothing. It was the strangest thing ever. My girlfriend said her & her husband were the same way, SOOOO sick on Monday to absolutely FINE on tuesday. Isn't that bizarre?

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by celstu1

I wonder if that is what I had last week. On Monday my girlfriend and her hubby got really sick, she is pregnant so she called her doctor and they said it was a virus, not food poisoning because she had hot & cold flashes and food poisoning does not give you that. The next night (tuesday) I got SUPER sick. It was not pretty. I was in SO much pain I couldn't even describe it. After I threw up countless times, harder than Ive ever felt before, every bone, muscle and joint in my body was screaming in pain. It was hard to walk, move, anything... drinking water even hurt my ears. I mean the pain was indescribable with how bad it was. This lasted ALL day weds and I went to bed around 730pm weds evening after taking 2000mg of tylenol with absolutely no results or dimished pain. I slept straight through until 8am thurs morning. When I woke up, it was like nothing happened. Everything was fine. I felt fine, pain was gone, fever gone, no more upset stomach, nothing. It was the strangest thing ever. My girlfriend said her & her husband were the same way, SOOOO sick on Monday to absolutely FINE on tuesday. Isn't that bizarre?

Yikes! That sounds awful. I eat raw eggs almost every day! I buy them from a local farm, though, via Whole Foods. I don't think that necessarily protects me from salmonella, but at least I'm sure they are very fresh.

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by celstu1

I wonder if that is what I had last week. On Monday my girlfriend and her hubby got really sick, she is pregnant so she called her doctor and they said it was a virus, not food poisoning because she had hot & cold flashes and food poisoning does not give you that. The next night (tuesday) I got SUPER sick. It was not pretty. I was in SO much pain I couldn't even describe it. After I threw up countless times, harder than Ive ever felt before, every bone, muscle and joint in my body was screaming in pain. It was hard to walk, move, anything... drinking water even hurt my ears. I mean the pain was indescribable with how bad it was. This lasted ALL day weds and I went to bed around 730pm weds evening after taking 2000mg of tylenol with absolutely no results or dimished pain. I slept straight through until 8am thurs morning. When I woke up, it was like nothing happened. Everything was fine. I felt fine, pain was gone, fever gone, no more upset stomach, nothing. It was the strangest thing ever. My girlfriend said her & her husband were the same way, SOOOO sick on Monday to absolutely FINE on tuesday. Isn't that bizarre?

Definitely sounds like it was possibly Salmonella poisoning. Here are some of the symptoms.
Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff
There are more than 2,000 varieties of salmonella bacteria, but only about a dozen of them cause illnesses in people. Most of these illnesses can be classified as gastroenteritis, often featuring severe diarrhea. But a few varieties of salmonella bacteria result in typhoid fever, a sometimes deadly disease that is more common in developing countries.
Gastroenteritis
Salmonella-induced gastroenteritis is most often caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. The incubation period ranges from several hours to two days. Signs and symptoms may include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Fever
Chills
Headache
Muscle pains
Blood in the stool

I have seen how inhumanely factory-laying-hens are caged and treated and consequently, I only buy organic cage-free or free-range chicken eggs. It costs only a little more, but it gives me peace of mind when it comes to how they are treated , feed, and how nutritious the eggs are.


edited for: Thank goodness that you are feeling better, as it can be very dangerous.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by lil fu fu girl

I have seen how inhumanely factory-laying-hens are caged and treated and consequently, I only buy organic cage-free or free-range chicken eggs. It costs only a little more, but it gives me peace of mind when it comes to how they are treated , feed, and how nutritious the eggs are.


edited for: Thank goodness that you are feeling better, as it can be very dangerous.

I second this. Chickens have the worst quality of life of all farm animals. Unfortunately, "cage-free" or "free-range" chicken doesn't necessarily mean that the chickens are treated well. Here is what I've read about Clover, a big organic brand:

Clover does not use anti-biotics. This means that the chickens are extremely vulnerable to disease, and because they still live in extremely close quarters, one sick chicken could easily wipe out the whole flock.

Clover therefore can't afford to let the chickens go outside, where they could pick up a bug. But the chickens need to be "free range". To solve this problem, Clover keeps the chickens inside a close facility for X number of weeks. At that point, they open a small door to the outside. However, since the chickens have been raised in totally closed facilities, they no longer want to go outside. Hence, these "free range" chickens actually spend their lifetimes indoors.

There are also big problems with inbreeding chickens to produce eggs that are totally uniform in color and size. In one line, roosters were actually raping and killing hens - their hardwired courtship behavior had accidentally been bred out of them.


Anyway, if you are able to, I really encourage everyone to buy eggs as locally as possible, either from a farmers market, or from a store that will stock local eggs. The ones I buy are all different colors, even green!

I've also heard that eggs actually stay fresh longer if they are not cleaned. I'm still looking for a place that will sell dirty-looking eggs.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I second this. Chickens have the worst quality of life of all farm animals. Unfortunately, "cage-free" or "free-range" chicken doesn't necessarily mean that the chickens are treated well. Here is what I've read about Clover, a big organic brand:

Clover does not use anti-biotics. This means that the chickens are extremely vulnerable to disease, and because they still live in extremely close quarters, one sick chicken could easily wipe out the whole flock.

Clover therefore can't afford to let the chickens go outside, where they could pick up a bug. But the chickens need to be "free range". To solve this problem, Clover keeps the chickens inside a close facility for X number of weeks. At that point, they open a small door to the outside. However, since the chickens have been raised in totally closed facilities, they no longer want to go outside. Hence, these "free range" chickens actually spend their lifetimes indoors.

There are also big problems with inbreeding chickens to produce eggs that are totally uniform in color and size. In one line, roosters were actually raping and killing hens - their hardwired courtship behavior had accidentally been bred out of them.


Anyway, if you are able to, I really encourage everyone to buy eggs as locally as possible, either from a farmers market, or from a store that will stock local eggs. The ones I buy are all different colors, even green!

I've also heard that eggs actually stay fresh longer if they are not cleaned. I'm still looking for a place that will sell dirty-looking eggs.

Why is freshness so important to you? Is it because you eat them raw? Do they lose lots of nutrition if not fresh? I've always read that not so fresh eggs are easier to peel then fresh eggs, and freshness has never been a huge concern of mine. I do know that if you are frying an egg, the white will spread out too much, if it's not fresh, so I try to fry the freshest ones and boil the others. My girlfriend lived on an egg farm and I helped her clean eggs, and the eggs don't have dirt on them if you know what I mean.

[QuickSilver]

Oops, I just meant to say, watch out for the words "free range". I believe "cage free" is a stronger term. Also look for "sustainably farmed".

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Why is freshness so important to you? Is it because you eat them raw? Do they lose lots of nutrition if not fresh? I've always read that not so fresh eggs are easier to peel then fresh eggs, and freshness has never been a huge concern of mine. I do know that if you are frying an egg, the white will spread out too much, if it's not fresh, so I try to fry the freshest ones and boil the others. My girlfriend lived on an egg farm and I helped her clean eggs, and the eggs don't have dirt on them if you know what I mean.

I have a protein shake almost every morning, and I use raw eggs. At first I was using any old eggs, and then I got kind of sick a couple times (nothing like what's described above). I realized at that point that I was using old eggs. I hadn't cared much before because I always cooked the eggs. After that I got really paranoid and went to the other side of the spectrum.

I actually don't know what you mean when you say the eggs don't have dirt on them. Do you mean the stuff is grosser than dirt? I was told that eggs stay fresher when not cleaned, and they are cleaned to make them look more appealing. I assume you clean them before you use them, just not when they are stored.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I have a protein shake almost every morning, and I use raw eggs. At first I was using any old eggs, and then I got kind of sick a couple times (nothing like what's described above). I realized at that point that I was using old eggs. I hadn't cared much before because I always cooked the eggs. After that I got really paranoid and went to the other side of the spectrum.

I actually don't know what you mean when you say the eggs don't have dirt on them. Do you mean the stuff is grosser than dirt? I was told that eggs stay fresher when not cleaned, and they are cleaned to make them look more appealing. I assume you clean them before you use them, just not when they are stored.

The stuff is grosser than dirt, most of the eggs have poop on them. We cleaned them in a big vat that had heated water in it and it smelled similar to the way Cascade dishwasher detergent smells, so I'm guessing, it was a very strong type of cleaner that probably strips the shell of a little natural something that helps preserve the egg, but if the eggs are refrigerated quickly, this seems preferable to the poop that's all over them. Modern farmers may use something where the egg slips away after it's laid, but these chickens laid their eggs in their nests. I think you would always want to clean an egg before cracking it, especially if you are eating it raw; there is lots of bacteria besides the salmonella that can make you sick.

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I second this. Chickens have the worst quality of life of all farm animals. Unfortunately, "cage-free" or "free-range" chicken doesn't necessarily mean that the chickens are treated well. Here is what I've read about Clover, a big organic brand:

Clover does not use anti-biotics. This means that the chickens are extremely vulnerable to disease, and because they still live in extremely close quarters, one sick chicken could easily wipe out the whole flock.

Clover therefore can't afford to let the chickens go outside, where they could pick up a bug. But the chickens need to be "free range". To solve this problem, Clover keeps the chickens inside a close facility for X number of weeks. At that point, they open a small door to the outside. However, since the chickens have been raised in totally closed facilities, they no longer want to go outside. Hence, these "free range" chickens actually spend their lifetimes indoors.

There are also big problems with inbreeding chickens to produce eggs that are totally uniform in color and size. In one line, roosters were actually raping and killing hens - their hardwired courtship behavior had accidentally been bred out of them.


Anyway, if you are able to, I really encourage everyone to buy eggs as locally as possible, either from a farmers market, or from a store that will stock local eggs. The ones I buy are all different colors, even green!

I've also heard that eggs actually stay fresh longer if they are not cleaned. I'm still looking for a place that will sell dirty-looking eggs.

We do most of our shopping at Whole Foods as well, and we buy eggs from "Giving Nature". They are allowed to roam free and are not subject to caging , antibiotic overdosing, or fat additives in their organic grains. The age of the hens are also closely monitored, as the age effects the nutritional value that is in the egg. We eat a lot of eggs at our house as well, more so than meat, so buying quality healty eggs is important.

[lil fu fu girl]

According to the USFDA:

This recall affects shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. The eggs are packaged under different brand names and distributed nationwide.

Where is it Distributed?
The recall affects eggs shipped since May 16, 2010 were sent to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Iowa.

[Zeus08]

Watch Food Inc and you will be mortified. The chicken industry needs to clean up their act!

[lil fu fu girl]

Another farm involved in recall:

WASHINGTON — More than a half-billion eggs have been recalled in the nationwide investigation of a salmonella outbreak that Friday expanded to include a second Iowa farm. The outbreak has already sickened more than 1,000 people and the toll of illnesses is expected to increase.

Iowa's Hillandale Farms said Friday it was recalling more than 170 million eggs after laboratory tests confirmed salmonella. The company did not say if its action was connected to the recall by Wright County Egg, another Iowa farm that recalled 380 million eggs earlier this week. The latest recall puts the total number of potentially tainted eggs at about 550 million.
FDA spokeswoman Pat El-Hinnawy said the two recalls are related. The strain of salmonella bacteria causing the poisoning is the same in both cases, salmonella enteritidis.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by lil fu fu girl

Another farm involved in recall:

This is horrible, do they have any idea whats causing the outbreak?

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

This is horrible, do they have any idea whats causing the outbreak?

UPDATE: August 20, 2010: Related nationwide recall:
Eggs from Hillandale Farms may put consumers at risk for Salmonella.

Through tracebacks conducted as part of its ongoing investigation into the increase of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses nationwide, FDA and the State of Minnesota identified Hillandale Farms in Iowa as a second potential source of contaminated shell eggs.

Eggs affected by this latest recall are distributed under the following brand names: Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, and Sunny Meadow in 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg package, and 5-dozen cases. Loose eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Wholesome Farms and West Creek in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs. The loose eggs may also be repackaged by customers.
Eggs involved in this related recall are only eggs with the following plant numbers:
P1860 – Julian (production) numbers ranging from 099 to 230
P1663 – Julian (production) numbers ranging from 137 to 230
FDA continues to have on-site investigators at Hillandale Farms of Iowa, Inc. and Wright County Egg in Iowa

The Agency has activated its emergency operations command center with scientists, investigators, epidemiologists, and communication experts. In addition, the FDA deployed an initial team of 10 investigators to Wright County Egg in Iowa to inspect the farms and determine the source of the contamination. More investigators are being deployed to help on-site, looking to find the source of the contamination. Investigators are performing environmental assessments of farm conditions and practices including pest and rodent controls, biosecurity plans, environmental monitoring, sanitary controls, and feed sources..

So far, everything that has been sent to me has not identified the source of the outbreak. I am just wondering how many more farms are going to be involved. Scary stuff....