Salmonella-Contaminated Egg Farm Still Not Compliant with FDA Rules
Health and Sanitary Violations Still Prevalent Two Months After Salmonella Egg Recall
In August, the FDA traced an outbreak of a strain of salmonella enteritidis to two massive egg operations: Quality Egg LLC and Hillandale Farms of Iowa. Extensive testing revealed that salmonella was present in the commercial feed that both farms were feeding chickens. The FDA also found significant and pervasive cleanliness violations which allowed the salmonella contamination to spread throughout the egg barns. Hillandale Farms of Iowa was issued a letter from the FDA last week that their operation had brought themselves into compliance with regulations and that they could resume egg sales.
The FDA's letter to Quality Egg LLC detailed examples of continued non-compliance with federal regulations. Most of the violations center around bio-security. Proper bio-security procedures restrict the spread of viral and bacterial contamination amongst flocks. In particular, the FDA found:
- areas that were conducive to rodent hiding and nesting places, including piles of wood and tall grass
- wild birds, including pigeons, flying around in the hen houses, allowing cross-contamination from wild bird feces
- access doors to manure pits had been pushed out by the weight of the contained manure leaving the hen houses open to wildlife incursion
- standing water in manure pits and manure seepage through the concrete foundation in several hen houses
The FDA letter requires Quality Egg to take immediate action to come into compliance with the egg safety regulations or risk seizure or injunction. There is no specific date in the letter by which the company must comply.
Published by Angie Mohr CA CMA - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance and Lifestyle
Angie Mohr is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Management Accountant who has worked with thousands of business clients from home-based entrepreneurs to rock bands to celebrity chefs. She is also the auth... View profile
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