Following confirmation of a dangerous form of Salmonella bacteria, consumers in Israel and Palestine have been warned to dispose of any eggs from one affected farm.
The warning was issued by Israel’s health ministry after lab tests revealed Salmonella enteritidis in eggs from Yesh Maof farm. As these bacteria can cause severe foodborne disease, consumers are asked to dispose of the eggs. It is thought between 40,000 and 80,000 eggs bearing two codes could be affected, reports Israel National News. The potentially infected eggs bear one of two stamps on the shell: number 98 and a use-by date of November 7, or number 67 with a use-by date of November 14.
According to the report, at less than 3 percent, the level of Salmonella contamination of Israeli eggs is below the global average.
Yesh Maof responded to the warning by stating that its poultry houses have been cleaned and are free of Salmonella. The firm is reported to have hinted that the stamps on the affected eggs may have been forged.
It is unclear how many people have become sick from the infected eggs, but Jerusalem Post reports two family members have been hospitalized.
Around 11 million eggs from the same farm were withdrawn from sale in September after Salmonella were detected, and one of the company’s poultry houses was closed down after the bacteria were found there.
Located in a cooperative agricultural community in northern Galilee near the border with Lebanon, Yesh Maof is one of Israel’s largest egg producers.
Salmonella are among the bacteria associated with food poisoning linked to live poultry, and to the handling and consumption of contaminated poultry meat and eggs.
Salmonella issues in other countries
Within the last week, a report has highlighted the link between backyard poultry and Salmonella infections in the U.S., and in Canada, one firm’s frozen chicken product was recalled after a number of people were taken ill.
Following a report highlighting the dramatic reduction in Salmonella in U.K. eggs in recent years, the country’s Food Standards Agency has revised its advice to consumers, saying that vulnerable individuals can now safely eat even raw or lightly cooked eggs produced under the British Lion Code of Practice. Around 90 percent of U.K. eggs are produced under this scheme.
