Rose Acre Farms of Seymour, IN late Friday recalled  206,749,248 eggs because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Acre decided to initiate the recall after at least 22 illnesses on the East Coast were traced back to its egg production farm in Hyde County, North Carolina, which produces 2.3 million eggs a day from 3 million laying hens.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is involved in an investigation that has included an inspection of the facility and interviews of the victims.

Healthy individuals infected with SalmonellaBraenderup can experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella Braenderup can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The potentially contaminated eggs from the Hyde County farm reached consumers in ten states including Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia by direct delivery to retail stores and restaurants.

More than 550 million table eggs were called from two Iowa egg farms owned by Austin (Jack) DeCoster in 2010 involving a nationwide  Salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands.   Afterward, Jack and his son Peter DeCoster each plead guilty to one count of allowing misbranded and adultered food to enter interstate commerce.   They and their company, Quality Egg LLC, ended up paying $7 million in fines and both DeCosters served three months in federal prison.

The affected eggs this time are  from plant number P-1065 with the Julian date range of 011 through the date of 102 printed on either the side portion or the principal side of the carton or package, as follows:

Lot Codes 011 – 102

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