Of course I know that you don’t really think that*, but it was the catchiest title I could come up with for this blog today. Especially since: 1) the media has been overloaded with news about the recall of eggs contaminated with salmonella; 2) I’ve talked about food contamination in several very recent blogs; BUT 3) given the magnitude of this latest problem, and its importance, it would be remiss for us not to comment on it here. So, if you’re bored to death with this topic, please bear with me just a bit longer. It is that important.

The current salmonella in eggs outbreak has caused the largest recall of eggs ever in the US; this week a total of over a half billion recalled eggs was reached. The good news is that the system for identifying and recalling contaminated food products is working.  The FDA, the CDC, The Department of Agriculture, and state public health officials are working together. Equally as impressive is the fact that, on August 13, 2010, one of the egg supplier firms voluntarily conducted a nationwide recall of shell eggs that it had shipped since May 19.

The bad news is that there still may be contaminated shell eggs out there not yet identified, in addition to other foods being contaminated. AND THAT IS ALWAYS THE CASE, EVEN WHEN  THERE  IS  NOT AN OUTBREAK CURRENTLY GOING ON.  So how do you protect yourself and your family?  Here are several easy rules to remember when handling fresh eggs.

1)Keep eggs refrigerated.

2)Cook eggs until yolks and whites are FIRM. This means that scrambled eggs should not be runny.

 3)Cook foods containing eggs thoroughly. Dishes containing eggs, such as casseroles should be cooked to 160 degrees F. Use a food thermometer.

For more specific ways to stay safe when buying, preparing and eating eggs, go to:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm077342.htm

To review the ways to protect yourself from food poisoning in general,  go to

our blog on the subject:

http://www.smartwomanshealth.com/horn_miller_blog/?m=201006

For more information about the Salmonella in egg outbreak, go to:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WhatsNewinFood/ucm222684.htm

*Salmonella is a bacteria that can contaminate food, causing illness in those who eat the contaminated food. It was named after the pathologist who discovered it – Daniel Elmer Salmon – and  has nothing to do with the  salmon fish.