Egg Safety: In Light of Recent Recall & FDA Recommendation to Use Pasteurized Eggs, Chicago Company Ramps Up Production of Salmonella-Free Eggs

LANSING, Ill., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-based National Pasteurized Eggs today ramped up production of its industry-leading salmonella-free Davidson's Safest Choice Pasteurized Shell Eggs as federal health officials expanded the recall of eggs linked to salmonella enteritidis to 380 million.

On Tuesday, the FDA advised use of pasteurized shell and liquid eggs to help retailers and food service outlets, along with consumers, avoid contracting dangerous egg-related salmonella enteritidis (SE). The announcement can be downloaded at http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WhatsNewinFood/ucm222684.htm

Already the nation's leading pasteurizer of in-shell eggs, National Pasteurized Eggs produces thousands of eggs daily out of plants in suburban Chicago and eastern South Dakota. NPE pasteurizes eggs via an all-natural, patented process recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inactivate Salmonella and the Avian Influenza Virus. The company is the world's largest producer of pasteurized shell eggs, and the eggs are used by America's industry leaders in the restaurant, hotel, healthcare and educational fields.

According to a 2009 survey fielded by TNS Worldwide regarding Americans' preferred egg preparation choices, more than one in four Americans eat their eggs sunny side up, and 28 percent of Americans eat their eggs over easy, both styles in which eggs are served undercooked. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of Americans are unaware that Salmonella is contagious and can be spread via cross-contamination.

The Food and Drug Administration recommendation to use pasteurized eggs was made amid news of a massive recall of shell eggs. Additionally, the CDC reported that since May 2010, there has been a fourfold increase in the number of SE isolates identified nationwide through PulseNet http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories. According to the CDC, it received reports of approximately 200 SE cases every week during late June and early July. The CDC received an average of 50 reports of SE illness each week over the past five years.

"We're pleased that the FDA is advising that all foodservice outlets and consumers do what hospitals, healthcare facilities and other safety conscious-restaurants, hotels and venues do: use pasteurized shell eggs," said Greg West, president of NPE. "There is no reason to even introduce salmonella into any kitchen – home or professional - if you can use pasteurized products."

The Davidson's Safest Choice brand can be found in major chains and independent grocers throughout Chicago and across the country. For more information or to find a retailer, visit www.safeeggs.com.

SOURCE National Pasteurized Eggs