Egg farm warned to clean up by FDA

Other firm has resumed sales

October 19, 2010|Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — One of two Iowa farms that recalled millions of eggs this summer will start shipping its products to stores again, but the second farm could be shut down if it doesn’t clean up, the Food and Drug Administration said yesterday.

In an Oct. 15 letter to Hillandale Farms the FDA said the company has adequately cleaned up its facilities after it was linked to 1,600 salmonella illnesses earlier this year.

The FDA said an additional inspection of Hillandale this month showed no evidence of salmonella in the laying houses that are open for business. Four other houses at the farms are undergoing further testing before they can be reopened, the FDA said. The company has also committed to do more frequent testing for salmonella.

A spokeswoman for Hillandale said the company began shipping eggs yesterday.

The FDA letter to Wright County Egg’s owner, Austin “Jack’’ DeCoster, urged him to take “prompt and aggressive actions’’ to eliminate salmonella from his farms. The FDA said it will reinspect the farm and could seize products or shut down the company if corrective action hasn’t been taken.

Wright County Egg supplied chickens and feed to Hillandale Farms, and FDA inspections after the recall showed far more violations there than at Hillandale, though samples of salmonella were found at both farms. Wright recalled 380 million eggs and Hillandale recalled 170 million.

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