The largest egg recall in years is expanding. The recall now covers 380 million eggs in more than a dozen states, including North Carolina and Georgia.
Hundreds of people have reported getting sick from eggs tainted with salmonella. So far, none of the tainted eggs have been found in South Carolina, but health officials say that could change.
The Piggly Wiggly in the Market Common in Myrtle Beach makes sure its customers know, the store's eggs are not among those recalled. Shoppers we talked to, like Carter Ferrell, have heard about the recall, but don't seem to be concerned. "Doesn't particularly bother me. I guess I've gotten used to recalls left and right."
Still, salmonella linked to eggs from two farms in Iowa has sickened more than a thousand people nationwide. Salmonella is a bacteria found in many animals, including chickens. Tom Eshleman, a food supervisor with the South Carolina Department of Heath and Environmental Control explains. "When a chicken lays an egg, the salmonella can go with it, either on the exterior of the shell or even inside the egg, which is why just washing the egg is not a way to prevent it."
But cooking an egg thoroughly, up to 145 degrees, will prevent it. The problem is, some people use raw eggs in recipes for sauces and mayonnaise. If that's you, Eshleman says, shop for egg products that are safe to use uncooked. "That product has been pasteurized, in a similar way to milk, which would kill any pathogens that were present in the eggs."
Also, avoid cross-contamination by thoroughly washing bowls and utensils that have come into contact with raw eggs.
So far, South Carolina has managed to avoid this egg recall and we can thank the state's farmers for that, according to Eshleman. "Because we have a lot of egg producers in state, then eggs are available within South Carolina, and a lot of the markets don't have to go outside of their state to get their product."
Eshleman says, there are more than 2,000 different types of salmonella that show up in many different foods. Which means, as widespread as this food recall is, it won't be the last.
