December 4, 2000

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule on labeling and refrigeration requirements in an effort to prevent food-borne illnesses results from salmonella-contaminated shell eggs. The refrigeration requirement will be effective in six months, while the safe handling requirement will be effective in nine months.

Shell egg cartons must include safe handling instructions because of eggs' association with salmonella, a bacterium responsible for food-borne illness. Approximately one out of every 20,000 eggs produced in the United States is estimated to be contaminated.

The new label attacks a problem that is already on the decline. Since 1996, the incidence of Salmonella Enteritidis – the type associated with eggs – has declined almost 50%. Most egg producers have adopted quality assurance programs that the Centers for Disease Control have recognized as contributing to progress against the pathogen.

Safe handling instructions on the label are to read: "To prevent illness from bacteria: keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly."

Salmonella outbreaks have been attributed to undercooked eggs and foods containing undercooked eggs served in homes, private gatherings and commercial establishments. Persons infected may experience diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting. However, children, the elderly and persons with weakened immune systems may develop severe or even life-threatening illness.

Additionally, the rule requires that eggs be placed promptly under refrigeration at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower upon delivery at retail establishments (supermarkets, restaurants, delis, caterers, vending operations, hospitals, nursing homes and schools). Refrigeration at an ambient temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler slows the growth and development of salmonella.

The rule is one part of the larger Egg Safety Action Plan, a farm-to-table approach for ensuring the safety of the nation's egg supply, announced by President Clinton almost a year ago. The plan, a joint effort by the FDA and USDA, seeks to reduce by 50% the number of illnesses attributed to contaminated eggs by 2005 and eliminate egg-associated salmonella illnesses by 2010.