The Federal Food and Drug Administration has said that around 207 million eggs have been recalled from 9 U.S. states after 22 people fell ill due to salmonella contamination. The farm in question is placed in Hyde County, North Carolina, which produces 2.3 million eggs per day and has 3 million laying hens as noted by Food Safety News.
Salmonella is the cause of serious and at times fatal infections, which get prominent in elderly people, young children and those with weak immune system. It affects the intestinal tract and is often contracted from poultry, eggs, meat and water, which is contaminated.
Symptoms that are seen amongst patients are abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and diarrhea. In some cases, its observed that diarrhea due to salmonella infection can be so dehydrating that one would need immediate medical care. If the infection spreads beyond intestines it can lead to life-threatening complications.
In 2010, half a billion eggs were recalled when salmonella outbreak sickened hundreds. In the U.S. around 1 million people get sick due to salmonella infection every year. About 19,000 people get hospitalized and 380 people die due to it as per U.S. government. But, its also true that most people get much better after a week’s treatment.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has said that consumers with these eggs shouldn’t eat them and throw away or return them to the place they purchased it from for credit and refund.
The brand that remains affected is Crystal Farms, Country Daybreak, Sunshine Farms, Coburn Farms and Glenview, also some eggs sold at Food Lion stores.