The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) recall of 550 million table eggs found to be contaminated by Salmonella enteritidis bacteria is unrelated to U.S. chicken-meat production. The recalled eggs were produced at two large layer farms in the state of Iowa, which are located more than 800 km. from the closest broiler facilities approved for export of chicken meat to Russia – which are located in the state of Arkansas.
“The poultry meat and egg segments of the U.S. poultry industry are completely separate entities,” said Jim Sumner, president of the U.S.A.P.E.E.C. “The products never come in contact with each other and are produced at separate facilities remotely located from one another, which fully excludes any possibility of cross-contamination.”
The safety of poultry meat and table eggs produced in the U.S. is controlled by two different federal agencies: the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture ensures the safety of poultry meat and the F.D.A. of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ensures the safety of table eggs. What’s more, U.S. table eggs have not been supplied to Russia since the end of 1999.
“All U.S. poultry facilities that have received permits for exports of poultry meat to Russia are currently using new technologies of poultry carcass disinfection which are in full compliance with Russian requirements on the safety of poultry products, including the presence of such pathogens as salmonella bacteria,” said Mark Lobstein, director of technical services, U.S.A.P.E.E.C.
“The safety of U.S. poultry meat and its compliance with Russian requirements is guaranteed at all stages of the production process by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” Sumner concluded.
