The FDA is currently investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonella enteritidis linked to chicken eggs from as many as 13 separate brands.  An estimated 266 people in California alone have been infected by consuming the  contaminated eggs.  So far, no deaths have been reported.

A recall, which includes all 13 egg brands, involves eggs all originating from an Iowa company.  While the Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa won’t confirm how many, experts have estimated up to 228 million eggs will be recalled from across the nation.  For additional information, read the FDA’s press release.

UPDATE (9/1/2010):  Since this recall was issued two weeks ago, the FDA egg recall has grown to include dozens of egg brands, all with similar plant numbers–typically beginning with a “P.”  The Egg Safety Center has put together a comprehensive list of all the egg products included in the recall.  If eggs you have purchased are included in the recall, don’t eat them.

Salmonella typhi is famous.  It’s killed millions since it first received attention in 430 BC when it swept through Athens and killed one third of the population–including their leader, Pericles.  More commonly known as “Typhoid Fever,” salmonella typhi is identified as a “serious public health problem” by the World Health Organization (WHO).  Anywhere from 16-33 million cases worldwide are reported annually.  People still die from this disease today–about 216,000 per year–most frequently in locations where food is not cleansed and handled properly.

Salmonella typhi presents with a number of symptoms including fever, heavy sweating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headache, cough, bloody noses, and rose-colored spots.  Lasting for as many as four weeks, typhoid fever can also seriously affect the lungs, spleen, liver, and brain.  As with most salmonella strains, infection generally comes from cross-contamination of contaminated foods to clean, ready-to-eat foods.  Poor sanitation and personal hygiene are also major factors.  In locations where salmonella typhi is prevalent, animals and insects are in regular contact with both feces and ready-to-eat foods, spreading bacteria from one to the other.  In the United States, salmonella typhi infections have been reduced due to education about the importance of hand washing after using the bathroom and covering the mouth and nose when coughing.  In addition to these personal hygiene measures, we are also fortunate to enjoy modern plumbing and chlorinated water that separate us from the bacteria our bodies produce.

Unlike most foodborne illnesses, certain persons infected with typhoid fever may not even know they’re sick.  In one famous case, a woman named Mary Mallon infected 53 people during her career as a cook–three of whom died.  Although she denied being infected with salmonella typhi until her death, the disease followed her from home to home, leaving a trail of suffering in her wake.  Typhoid Mary unwittingly infected the families for whom she worked by coughing, sneezing, not washing her hands, and then handling ready-to-eat foods and preparing beverages.  The legacy she left behind when she passed away from unrelated causes, was the critical importance of hand washing, vaccination, and cooking food thoroughly. Click here and here for some period posters about the ability to prevent this disease.

Finally, here is a list of famous victims of salmonella typhi:

• Abigail Adams–second First Lady of the United States
• Louisa May Alcott–author of Little Women
• Charles Darwin–naturalist, author of On the Origin of Species
• Mary Todd Lincoln–wife of Abraham Lincoln
• Wilbur Wright–one of the Wright Brothers
• Anne Frank–famous diary writer (Diary of Anne Frank)
• Pericles–famous orator and statesman in ancient Athens

Facts Source:  Wikipedia

This morning we received possibly the most bizarre FDA update we’ve ever seen:  “FDA warns of Salmonella risk from frozen rodents fed to reptiles.”

Biggers and Callaham LLC (dba MiceDirect), a reptile-feed delivery company, has voluntarily recalled several frozen food products (rodents and birds) that have been linked to outbreaks of Salmonella in 17 states across the country.  For a full list of recalled products, click here.   Biggers and Callaham LLC recommends placing any recall items  in a sealed bag in the garbage, and not attempting to cook the products or feed them to pets.

We covered a similar topic in our Kissing Frogs post back in March when we reported on the numbers of young girls who gave themselves Salmonella by kissing frogs after the release of the Disney film The Princess and the Frog. The bottom line is this:  animals, while cute and sometimes fun, are covered in germs.  Their immune systems do not require the same level of cleanliness as ours do and so foods and environments that are safe for animals can make humans very sick.  In fact, with this most recent recall announcement, the FDA has warned against allowing children under five (5) to handle snakes and other reptiles.  Animals such as reptiles and birds are common sources of Salmonella infection in young people because children often touch their eyes, noses, and mouths without washing their hands.  Older children and elderly persons should have limited contact with reptiles, birds, and frozen animal products such as those involved in the recall.

Read the entire FDA press release here.

S.510 is the official name of the Food Safety Modernization Act, a bill that is expected to pass through the U.S. Congress soon, and without much difficulty.  Sometimes lawmakers across the aisle have a difficult time seeing eye-to-eye–but not when it comes to food safety.  The bill, sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), would potentially give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services more regulatory control over inspections, recalls, and imported foods.

If your are interested in following the progress of this important piece of legislation, please click here.  We will try and keep you posted as we learn more.

Recall list for 2010