Georgia Included In Egg Recall

ATLANTA,None — A massive egg recall has now been expanded to include Georgia. The recall now covers 380 million eggs. At least 300 people in at least 17 states have gotten sick, health officials said.

Initially, 228 million eggs, or the equivalent of 19 million dozen-egg cartons, were recalled by the company Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. But that number was increased to nearly 32 million dozen-egg cartons.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Diana Davis spoke with officials with the FDA who said some of the contaminated eggs were shipped to food wholesalers distribution centers and food service companies in Georgia.

The state Department of Agriculture told Davis that inspectors are now checking all grocery stores and food warehouses for the recalled eggs. They will be pulled from shelves, officials said.

Both Kroger and Publix officials told Channel 2 they are not affected by the expanded recall.

Salmonella food poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache and chills. Symptoms begins within 12 hours to three days after eating contaminated eggs.

The state health department said they have not received any higher than usual reports of salmonella cases in Georgia.

Other states have seen a jump in reports of the type of salmonella. For example, California has reported 266 illnesses since June and believes many are related to the eggs. Colorado saw 28 cases in June and July, about four times the usual number. Spikes or clusters of suspicious cases have also been reported in Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

Thoroughly cooking eggs can kill the bacteria. But health officials are recommending people throw away or return the recalled eggs.

WSBTV