IDPH Offers Egg Safety Tips

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), along with state and federal regulatory partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and several state health departments, is participating in the investigation of Salmonella Enteriditis (SE) illnesses associated with the FDA recall of Wright County Eggs.
 
To date, no illnesses in Iowa have been directly linked to the egg recall; however, last year in Iowa, SE caused 84 cases of illness and so far in 2010, 86 cases of SE illness have been identified in Iowa. Eggs can be contaminated with SE, but are safe when properly handled. To reduce the risk of SE illness, you should:
 
•        Keep eggs refrigerated at all times.
•        Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
•        Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with  soap and water  after contact with raw eggs.
•        Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm and eaten promptly   after cooking. Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than two hours.
•        Refrigerate unused or leftover egg-containing foods promptly.
•        Avoid eating raw eggs.
 
If you believe you may have unknowingly eaten eggs that were included in the FDA recall, you should not be concerned about illness as long as the eggs were cooked thoroughly.
 
For more information about the FDA egg recall, visit www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm222501.htm. For information about Salmonella, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/epifacts/salmonella.pdf.