A second Iowa egg producer has been implicated as a possible source for the recent rise in salmanella cases. Hillendale Farms of Iowa has recalled 170 million eggs distributed since April 9 2010 after epidemiologists linked the eggs to a salmonella outbreak in May. The eggs recalled  were sold under the farm’s own name as well as Sunny Farms, Sunny Meadow, Wholesome Farms and West Creek and were distributed  in California, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Another Iowa company, Wright County Egg,  has already recalled 380 million eggs. This brings the total to more than one half billion eggs being recalled. The outbreak occurred as new FDA egg-safety rules came into effect in early July. The new rule requires producers to test more for salmonella, as well as take other precautions. It is hoped the new rule will lessen the risk of salmonella in eggs.

Ongoing Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Egg Recall
 
A national outbreak of salmonella in eggs has sickened hundreds of people since May and appears to be ongoing, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say. The outbreak has been tracked to in-shell eggs from Wright County Egg in Galt, Iowa, which has launched a recall.

The Associated Press estimates the total number of eggs recalled at 228 million.

Eggs from the company were sold under multiple brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. They were distributed nationwide. The recall was launched Aug. 13.

CDC: Poultry is No. 1 food poisoning culprit

The recall covers eggs in their shells packed between May 16 and Aug. 13. They come in cartons ranging from six to 18 eggs and are marked with plant numbers P-1026, P-1413 and P-1946. The eggs should be returned for a refund and not consumed.

The type of salmonella causing the outbreak, salmonella enteritidis, is the most common form. The normal level of laboratory-confirmed cases nationally for this specific type is about 50 cases per week. When that jumped to 200 cases a week in June, public health workers realized they had a problem, says Casey Barton Behravesh, a veterinary epidemiologist with the CDC. Many states had reported increases since May.

The article containing further information can be found  at:  http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-18-salmonella18_ST_N.htm

An outbreak of E. coli that has sickened eight people has been traced to a Southern Minnesota dairy farm, says the Minnesota Department of Health.  The farm, Hartmann Dairy Farm, however, continues to deny responsibility.  The hospitalizations have set off a debate over the dangers of raw dairy products.

The Minnesota Department of Health first identified Hartmann farm, in rural Gibbon, Minnesota, in a May 26^th press release.  The Department strongly cautioned consumers to avoid purchasing dairy products from Hartmann, and to discard any products already purchased.  In a subsequent press release, Health Department officials revealed that they had gathered solid epidemiological evidence that Hartmann was the source of the outbreak, finding, “that the only thing the ill people had in common was consumption of dairy products from the Hartmann farm.”  The Department of Health’s position was bolstered by laboratory results that confirmed that the specific strain of E. coli found in the five victims, E. coli O157:H7, was also found in several of the farm’s animals, and at numerous locations on the property.

Strangely, however, Hartmann Dairy Farm maintains that they are not the source of the outbreak.  On May 28^th, Hartmann shot back with a press release that attacked the notion that unpasteurized milk is dangerous and the individuals and agencies that enforce food safety regulations.  The Hartmann family complained that a search warrant had been executed on their farm, as “the Sibley County Sheriff and eight armed deputies, the department officials seized samples of milk, cleaning water, waste barrel contents, and manure, along with copies of records of customers, phone numbers, and delivery sites.”  Apparently in denial about the benefits of pasteurization, the Hartmann press release goes on to deny that consumption of raw milk is potentially harmful, blaming the “bias” and “arbitrary conclusion” of Minnesota Department of Agriculture Director of Dairy and Food Inspection, Heidi Kassenborg.

Despite Hartmann Dairy Farm’s growing support among the organic and natural foods movement, virtually every federal, state and local health agency nationwide cautions against the consumption of raw milk.  Milk is considered “raw” when it has not been pasteurized, a process developed by Louis Pasteur in 1864 that involves heating milk to a specific temperature.  The heating process kills harmful pathogens (including E. coli) that can make consumers ill.  The Food and Drug Administration provides a helpful guide on the dangers of unpasteurized dairy products.