by Corey Whelan
500 million eggs have been recalled to date by two major Iowa producers, Wright County Eggs and Hillandale Farms. To date, the recall impacts 14 states throughout the West and Midwestern United States These eggs are infected with a bacteria known as salmonella, and can be found in brands that include, but are not limited to Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanada, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp's.
Salmonella is one of the most common forms of food related illnesses found in the U.S. and is often found in meat, poultry, eggs and vegetables such as lettuce and spinach.
Salmonella infects the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain and is of particular concern to people with a compromised immune system, as well as pregnant women.
In pregnant women, salmonella infection can cross over into the placenta, producing severe consequences for the fetus, such as abnormal fetal heartbeat or even death, even if the mother's symptoms are mild. This is of clear concern to both women who are pregnant and those who are currently trying to conceive.
it is very important to note that the salmonella threat we are currently facing can be avoided completely by simply cooking eggs completely with no runniness at all, and thoroughly washing all surfaces that the raw egg was handled upon. Remember that eggs are often a hidden ingredient in many prepared foods, such as baked goods; raw dough even in small amounts should never be eaten. Make sure to be vigilant about the foods you order when you are eating out in restaurants and don't be afraid to make your concerns known to the chef.
It's a sad state of affairs when we have to be afraid of the foods that we eat, but in the case of this particular outbreak, better very safe than terribly sorry.
Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/69734-effects-salmonella-pregnancy/
http://www.examiner.com/sf-in-san-francisco/egg-recall-salmonella-and-pregnancy-what-bay-area-women-need-to-know
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.htm#mostcommon
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