Gravel Ridge Farms linked to Salmonella outbreak

The recall was initiated because reported illnesses were confirmed at locations using Gravel Ridge Farm Eggs.

Andrea Gantz
Andrea Gantz

An Alabama farm has recalled its cage-free eggs after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked them to a multi-state Salmonella outbreak.

“The recall was initiated because reported illnesses were confirmed at locations using Gravel Ridge Farm Eggs, and we are voluntarily recalling out of an abundance of caution,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported.

The potentially contaminated eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms that have been recalled include packages of a dozen and 2.5 dozen eggs in cardboard containers with UPC code 7-06970-38444-6. Recalled eggs have “best if used by” dates of July 25, 2018, through October 3, 2018.

The CDC report is advising to not eat, sell or serve Gravel Ridge Farms cage-free large eggs. Consumers should return them to the store for a refund or throw them away. If some eggs were eaten and no one got sick, do not eat the remaining eggs.

The outbreak has resulted in 14 people that have been infected with the strain of Salmonella Enteritidis in multiple states. USA today reported that those states include Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 10, 2018, to August 7, 2018. Two people have been hospitalized. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that shell eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms are a likely source of the outbreak, CDC reported.

Gravel Ridge Farms is in Cullman County, Alabama. The Rocket City Now reported that the company has stopped all destitution and production until they get the issue resolved with the FDA.  The Common Market Georgia reported that in 2016 the Gravel Ridge operation housed 2,300 egg-laying hens and collected around 165 dozen cage-free, free-range eggs a day.

Recent South Africa egg recall 

South Africa’s Agency for Food Safety and Quality (AFSQ) has issued a recall for imported eggs on August 30.

AFSQ has been selected by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to conduct inspections, grading and sampling of animal products to make sure guidelines set by the Agricultural Product Standards Act are being followed, Farmer’s Weekly reported.

Hennie Joubert, manager of poultry at AFSQ, told Farmer’s Weekly that the recall had been issued on those imported eggs. The eggs did not pose a health risk. The recall was for labeling and classification issues.

 

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