Rose Acre Farms is voluntarily recalling 206,749,248 eggs because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on April 13.
The eggs were distributed from Rose Acre’s farm in Hyde County, North Carolina, and reached consumers in the following states: Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia through retail stores and restaurants via direct delivery.
As of the time the recall was reported, 22 illnesses in the U.S. had been reported.
Salmonella Braenderup is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals infected with Salmonella Braenderup can experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella Braenderup can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
The affected eggs, from plant number P-1065 carry the Julian date range of 011 through date of 102, which printed on either the side portion or the principal side of the carton or package. A thorough list of recalled eggs appears on the FDA website.
The voluntary recall was a result of some illnesses reported on the U.S. East Coast, which led to extensive interviews and eventually a thorough FDA inspection of the Hyde County farm, which produces 2.3 million eggs a day. The facility includes 3 million laying hens with a USDA inspector on-site daily.
Consumers who have purchased shells eggs are urged to immediately discontinue use of the recalled eggs and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at +1.855.215.5730 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Standard time.
