FDA Warns Iowa Egg Farm Over Salmonella

By CnAgri2012-09-12 19:11:33 Print

The USDA has sent a warning letter to Iowa egg producer, Centrum Valley Farms, after a routine safety inspection in May discovered Salmonella Heidelberg in two of the company's barns.

In 2010, Centrum Valley was linked to a 2010 nationwide Salmonella enteritis outbreak, which saw 500 million eggs recalled nationwide.

Along with the discovery of Salmonella Heidelberg, the FDA said the farm was in violation of a number of new egg safety rules designed to curb salmonella outbreaks.

The letter from the FDA said: "There is a strong body of scientific evidence indicating the primary risk factor for SH illness is shell eggs. Furthermore, SH has caused several egg associated outbreaks resulting in human illness and at times death. Given this body of evidence, FDA considers SH within a poultry house environment to be a public health threat."

FDA also acknowledged that the farm have been working with them to address the situation. Centrum Valley Farms is already taking corrective actions and is working on a response to the FDA.