Egg Recall Farms Boasts Unsanitary Conditions, Maggots, and Rat Poop

The egg recall farms responsible for ruining the breakfast of millions of Americans is "unsanitary" according to recent reports from the Associated Press. Wright County Egg was the initial culprit behind the over half a billion eggs recalled.

Prior to his event, egg farms were not regularly inspected by the FDA. The Obama administration has indicated that they are going to inspect 100% of the nation's large egg farms - or 600 farms total. These 600 farms make 80% of the eggs we consume in the US.

The egg recall brands list and information can be found here.

According to the LA Times, the inspectors found the following conditions:

Among the observations of the investigators:

- Live rodents and mice at both farms;

- Structural damage and holes in many locations at both farms, allowing wildlife access;

- Escaped chickens tracking manure through the houses;

- Employees not changing clothing properly when moving from one location to another and not sanitizing equipment properly;

- "Live flies too numerous to count" on egg belts, in the feed, on the eggs themselves at Wright County Egg;

- Dead and live maggots "too numerous to count" on the manure pit floor in one location at Wright County Egg;

- Manure piled four to eight feet high in five locations at Wright County Egg, leaning against and pushing open doors that allowed wildlife to enter the laying houses;

- Nonchicken feathers in a laying house and wild birds flying in and out of two facilities at Wright County Egg;

- Manure seeping through the foundation to the outside of laying houses in 13 locations at Wright County Egg;

- Rusted holes in feed bins and birds flying over the feed bins at Wright County Egg;

This is disturbing, isn't it? It just goes to show you that we don't know what we are really eating this day and age.

Personally, I think that the Department of Agriculture, FDA, and Iowa State agencies have at least partial blame for the recall. If Jack DeCoster, the entrepreneur behind the chicken farms, was a repeat offender he should have been under closer scrutiny.

In addition, the disjointed nature of the Department of Agriculture and FDA over farms goes to show a big problem. Either the FDA or the Department of Agriculture should take charge of farming operations...it shouldn't be overlapping or disjointed.

Consumers that are concerned about consuming eggs can purchase pasteurized eggs. I recently went to the grocery store and they were a couple dollars higher per dozen than regular eggs. In addition, many supermarkets will let you know upfront if any of their suppliers were impacted by the egg recall.

Source:

LA Times