Salmonella scare in the US: FDA pulls the red card
The US FDA has escalated the recall classification for 1.6 million cartons of eggs to the highest severity level due to concerns of Salmonella contamination. Over 19 million eggs have been pulled from the market after being sold in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, at Kroger and Brookshire Grocery chains. The agency defined the event as a 'Class 1 recall,' indicating a reasonable probability of serious health damage or death. The event follows another Salmonella outbreak this summer, which led Taylor Farms to recall products containing jalapeño peppers.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last weekend escalated the recall classification for 1.6 million cartons of eggs due to concerns of Salmonella contamination, raising it to the highest severity level. On Wednesday, the FDA defined the event as a 'Class 1 recall' – a classification the agency gives to cases where there is a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to the product will cause serious health damage or death. The eggs included in the recall were sold, among other places, in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, at Kroger and Brookshire Grocery chains. According to the FDA, they were also sold in additional small stores. The agency noted that other products from the company are not included in the current recall. The event follows another Salmonella outbreak that began earlier this summer. Following it, Taylor Farms recalled various ready-made products containing jalapeño peppers that were sold at chains including Target, Trader Joe's, Walmart, and Whole Foods. Taylor Farms, based in California, said it recalled the products voluntarily after its pepper supplier, Coast Citrus Distributors, issued a recall for fresh jalapeños due to Salmonella concerns. Taylor Farms products were also removed from Target branches, Trader Joe's, and the Hannaford supermarket chain, which operates from Maine. In total, the recall affects about 20 states across the United States. The company announced it has stopped purchasing produce from farmers in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, which was identified as a possible source of the Salmonella outbreak.