20.10.2011

At least six people in Minnesota have Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to contaminated organic eggs.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said that they are investigating the outbreak and have traced back the eggs to the Larry Schultz Organic Farm in Owatonna, where environmental testing confirmed the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis.
The farm is cooperating with the MDA investigation and has recalled its eggs, which were distributed to restaurants, grocery stores, food wholesalers and food service companies in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
According to state public health authorities, routine reportable disease monitoring identified six cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infection with the same DNA fingerprint. The individuals became ill between August 12 and September 24.
The case patients include children and adults, and all are residents of the seven-county metropolitan area. Three of the patients were hospitalized but have since recovered. Five of the six individuals infected reported eating eggs from the Larry Schultz Organic Farm purchased at grocery stores or co-ops.

 

The free-range shell-egg producer is not covered under FDA's Egg Safety Rule, because the company maintains fewer than 3,000 laying hens. (The "small producer" definition in the UK is fewer than 350 laying hens).