FDA tests confirm salmonella at egg farms

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Tests confirm eggs at two Iowa producers are contaminated with a salmonella strain blamed for a national outbreak and huge recall, federal officials said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said salmonella enteritidis was found in two barns at Wright County Egg, and in feed the company made and gave to its chickens and in feed it supplied to Hillandale Farms, The Washington Post reported Friday.

Wright County Egg and Hillandale recalled about 500 million eggs during the past two weeks and agreed not to sell shell eggs to the public until the FDA finishes its investigation. The companies supplied eggs that were sold under at least 25 brands.

No deaths have been reported in the outbreak federal officials say they believe began in May.

"These are the very first results that we're beginning to get in and there are many other results in the queue that may give us clues as to the extent of contamination," said Jeff Farrar, FDA associate commissioner for food protection.

He said it wasn't clear how the barns or feed became contaminated.

In the meantime, the companies are selling their eggs to facilities that pasteurize them, killing the salmonella and allowing the egg products to be used in other foods.

Dr. Christopher R. Braden of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta said Thursday the number of confirmed cases linked to the salmonella outbreak rose by about 200 in the past week to 1,500.

Salmonella enteritidis infections, which can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever, may be severe but are rarely life-threatening, officials said. In people with depressed immune systems, salmonella can cause fatal bloodstream infections.