Largest egg distributor in US recalls 288K eggs

Cal-Maine, the nation’s largest distributor of eggs, has recalled hundreds of thousands of eggs after evidence of salmonella was found at an Ohio farm during a FDA inspection.

The recall is the second of its kind this year, the first of which is believed to have sickened 1,600 people due to eggs contaminated with Salmonella. CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell said that for every reported case of the foodborne illness, more than 30 unreported cases of the infection may have occurred. Salmonella poses a heightened risk to elderly people, the very young and people who have a compromised immune system. No cases of the illness have yet been linked to the latest outbreak.

Marketwatch posted some information on the identifying details of eggs involved in the recall:

Plant numbers and Julian dates can be found printed on the individual cartons. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example P1457-282… Consumers who believe they may have purchased potentially affected shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. Questions and concerns may also be directed to Cal-Maine’s corporate office at 1-866-276-6299 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST.

The farm involved in the most recent recall has been financially backed in the past by the man who owned the farms involved in the recall earlier this year.