Iowa farm OK’d to resume shell egg sales

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration says it will allow an Iowa egg farm linked to a widespread salmonella outbreak to resume selling its shell eggs to consumers.

Wright County Egg recalled 380 million eggs earlier this year after the farm and another Iowa operation, Hillandale Farms, were linked to more than 1,600 salmonella illnesses. A subsequent FDA inspection of the farms revealed dead chickens, insects, rodents, and towers of manure.

In October, the FDA allowed Hillandale to resume shipping its eggs but sent Wright County Egg a letter saying the business could be shut down if the farm didn’t take corrective actions. The FDA inspections showed far more violations at Wright County Egg than at Hillandale, which purchased chickens and feed from Wright.