Commissary eggs safe to eat

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  As of Aug. 24, the Columbus AFB Commissary and other food serving facilities on-base are not affected by the massive Wright County Egg voluntary recall, Columbus AFB and Defense Commissary Agency officials reported. (Editor's note: Information from an article found on www.af.mil was used in writing this story).

Although the commissary may carry some of the brands mentioned in the Aug. 13 recall action, the eggs sold in military stores are not part of those linked to salmonella contamination, officials said. All military commissaries are not affected by the recall.

Dr. Misty Looney, public health officer with the 14th Medical Group, said all facilities with food on-base, such as the bowling alley and the Columbus Club, were not affected by the salmonella contamination or the recall.

Doctor Looney said while Columbus AFB is not affected by the re-call, it is always prudent to practice safe food handling at home. She said to make sure eggs and meats are thoroughly cooked and to wash hands when working with raw eggs and meat.

The initial Wright County Egg recall announcement involved more than 228 million shell eggs. On Aug. 18, the recall expanded to more than 380 million eggs sold in cartons of six, 12 or 18.

Commissary customers can check the status of their eggs at home by looking for the Julian date and plant code stamped on the end of each egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P, followed by a number. The Julian date follows the plant number. Example: P-1946 223.

The Aug. 13 recall applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:
-- Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps; plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946; Julian dates of 136 to 225.

The Aug. 18 recall of cartons of six, 12 and 18 applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:

-- Albertson's, Mountain Dairy, Glenview, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Pacific Coast, Farm Fresh, Lund and Kemps; plant numbers 1720 and 1942; Julian dates of 136 to 229.

To date, the recalled eggs are known to have been distributed to stores nationwide, according to the Food and Drug Administration's recall alert sent Aug. 13. Illnesses relating to the shell eggs have been confirmed, and traceback investigations are ongoing, the FDA statement said.

The salmonella organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.