Last year FDA inspectors found serious violations of rules intended to prevent Salmonella at two major egg producers, but despite stern warnings, the FDA says the companies haven't made the necessary changes. So you know what that means: MORE stern warnings! Among their findings last year, rodent excreta pellets "too numerous to count" was cited in poultry houses in Midwest Poultry Services in Indiana. And "stray poultry, wild birds, cats, and other animals," were found in poultry houses at SKS Enterprises in California.
Those two findings alone are serious violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation regulation, which was introduced two years ago in an attempt to prevent Salmonella outbreaks. After the inspections, both companies promised to implement changes. The FDA says Midwest, which also failed to maintain records showing it refrigerated eggs within 36 hours of of laying, has "failed to achieve satisfactory rodent control."
And in a letter to SKS, the FDA blasted the company for failing to install chicken wire to prevent wild birds from nesting in the poultry house. In addition, during a more recent inspections, investigators "observed a visitor drive a car onto the ranch through the west entrance without washing or disinfecting their vehicle." The company was also criticized for "missing rodent monitoring records."
A CEO at Midwest, which produces some 150 million dozen eggs a year, tells the Times the FDA "cited two violations, both of which were about documentation, and all of that documentation has been sent to them. Now we’re waiting to see if they want any more." SKS has not responded to our request for comment.
