What defect led to the 2018 recall of more than 200 million eggs from Rose Acre Farms?

Salmonella contamination led to the 2018 recall of more than 200 million eggs from Rose Acre Farms.

In April 2018, Rose Acre Farms recalled eggs produced at its Hyde County, North Carolina, farm. The action covered roughly 206 million shell eggs distributed to retailers, restaurants and institutions in several states. The eggs were sold under multiple brand names, including Country Daybreak and Crystal Farms.

The FDA linked the recall to illnesses caused by Salmonella Braenderup. Investigators traced the outbreak to the farm and found environmental evidence of the organism. Consumers were advised to discard or return eggs with the affected plant number and Julian dates rather than rely only on the brand name.

This recall is sometimes confused with egg recalls involving cracked shells or undeclared allergens. Salmonella is different: it is a microorganism that may be present without changing an egg’s smell or appearance. Thorough cooking reduces risk, but contaminated raw eggs should not be eaten.