ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Monday proposed a rule to require Salmonella prevention programs for thousands of the nation's egg producers.
FDA said about 118,000 illnesses are caused by eating Salmonella-contaminated eggs each year. FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Lester Crawford said the new rule would reduce cases of Salmonella from infected eggs by 33,500. It would cost the industry about $82 million per year to implement.
The rule would require Salmonella prevention measures be enacted by producers with 3,000 or more laying hens if processing does not include a treatment, such as pasteurization, to ensure safety.
The prevention measures would include procurement provisions, biosecurity plans, pest and rodent control, cleaning and disinfectant standards and Salmonella testing requirements.
FDA said more than 4,100 farms would be affected. The industry has 90 days to send the FDA its comments.
