FDA Inspectors found rodent problems and other “objectionable conditions and practices” at the Rose Acre Farms egg production facility that has been linked to a multi-state Salmonella outbreak, according to the agency’s most recent update on the investigation. The update contains a link to the 483 inspection report that summarizes the conditions the FDA found during an inspection from March 26 through Aprill 11 this year.
Here’s what they found.
Insufficient efforts to address a rodent infestation that has been ongoing since September 2017. Supporting evidence noted live rodents in the manure pits, live rodents in the staging area including baby mice, a live rodent on the bird platform, two dead rodents about 10 feet from the front door of one of the houses and a hole in the walls of one house large enough to let daylight- and therefore rodents in.
“Insanitary conditions and poor employee practices” that create an environment which “allows for the harborage, proliferation and spread of filth and pathogens throughout the facility that could cause the contamination of egg processing equipment and eggs.” Specifically, they found:
- A “sanitizing step” did not follow the “wash step.”
- Condensation was dripping from the ceiling, pipes and down walls onto production equipment.
- Maintenance and sanitation employees were putting food contact equipment on the floor, pallet or other surfaces that were visibly dirty before putting them to use.
- Maintenance employees were touching their bodies and other non-food contact surfaces and then touching shell eggs and food contact surfaces without first changing gloves or washing hands. Body touches included touches to the hair, face and “intergluteal cleft.” Touches to non-food contact surfaces were to visibly dirty production equipment, boxes, trash bins, transport cans and the floor.
- Equipment was coated with grime, dried egg and eggshells.
- A steel wool scrubber used to clean the egg buffers was stored near a dustpan that held a pool of a water and egg mixture dotted with floating bits of “food debris and grime.”
- A pile of spilled feed covered in flying insects too numerous to count.
- Flying insects landing on food-production equipment.
FDA Investigation Timeline
March 5, 2018
FDA learns of multi-state cluster of Salmonella Braenderup infections. Genetic testing has been used to identify the specific and rare Salmonella strain that is the cause of these illnesses. Working with the CDC and state public health partners, the food item is identified as eggs. FDA collects and begins to review records to identify the source of the eggs.
March 26 – April 11, 2018
FDA conducts a thorough inspection and collects samples from Rose Acre Farms’ facility in Hyde County, NC.
April 11, 2018
Results of FDA lab tests on samples collected from the Hyde County egg farm facility laboratory show a match to the rare outbreak strain of Salmonella Braenderup. “This evidence demonstrates that eggs from the Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm are the likely source of the outbreak,” the FDA states in an outbreak report.
April 13, 2018
Rose Acre Farms issues a voluntarily recall of more than 200 million eggs sold under a variety of brand names.
April 16, 2018
The CDC reports a Salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs has sickened 23 people in nine states. Cases reported by state are: Colorado (1), Florida (2), New Jersey (1), New York (6), North Carolina (4), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Virginia (5), and West Virginia (1. )Six people were so sick they required hospitalization.
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. issues a voluntarily recall of 23,400 dozen eggs purchased from Rose Acre Farms and produced at the Hyde County facility.
Eggs Recalled for Salmonella Risk
Eggs included in the Rose Acre Farms’ recall were sold under a variety of brand names including Coburn Farms, Country Daybreak, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms, Publix, Sunshine Farms and Sunups. Cartons of recalled eggs are stamped with the plant number P-1065 and a Lot Code/Julian Date between 011 and 102 or a Plant Number P-1359D and Julian Date 048A or 049A.
| Brand/Retailer | Item Description | Plant Number | Julian Date | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COUNTRY DAYBREAK | A LARGE X 30 DOZEN A LARGE X15 DOZEN A JUMBO X24 DOZEN A MEDIUM X30 DOZEN A XLARGE X30 DOZEN A JUMBO X12 DOZEN |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 077236000302 077236000500 077236000203 077236000401 077236000500 |
| FOOD LION | A JUMBO X 12 DOZEN A MEDIUM X15 DOZEN A XLARGE X 15 DOZEN A 18PK LARGE X15 DOZEN A LARGE X15 DOZEN A 6PK LARGE X 15 DOZEN |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 035826089618 035826089649 035826089625 035826089601 035826089588 035826089632 |
| LOOSE | A USDA SMALL X 30 DOZEN A USDA MEDIUM X 30 DOZEN A XLARGE X15 DOZEN A XLARGE X30 DOZEN A MEDIUM X 15 DOZEN A MEDIUM X30 DOZEN USDA AA XLARGE X30 DOZEN USDA AA XLARGE X15 DOZEN USDA AA LARGE X30 DOZEN USDA AA LARGE X15 DOZEN USDA AA MEDIUM X30 DOZEN AA XLARGE X30 DOZEN USDA AA LARGE PFG X 30 DOZEN USDA AA LARGE PFG X 15 DOZEN USDA A XLARGE X30 DOZEN |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | N/A |
| NELMS | A JUMBO X24 | P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 634181000018 |
| WAFFLE HOUSE | LOOSE USDA A LARGE X 30 DOZEN | P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | N/A |
| CRYSTAL FARMS | A MEDIUM X30 A 18PK MEDIUM X 30 A 2.5 DOZ MEDIUM X 25 |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 077236000203 077236000258 077236000124 |
| COUNTRY DAYBREAK | A XLARGE X15 DOZEN USDA GRADE A XLARGE X 240 DOZEN PULP USDA GRADE A LARGE RACK X 240 DOZEN PULP |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 077236000401 077236700400 077236700301 |
| COBURN FARMS | A MEDIUM MP X 30 DOZEN A LARGE X 30 DOZEN A 18PK LARGE X 30 DOZEN |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 051933182608 051933190801 051933182509 |
| SUNSHINE FARMS | A JUMBO X 12 DOZEN | P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 804879457336 |
| GLENVIEW | USDA AA LOOSE LARGE (6-2.5 FLATS) X 15 DOZEN USDA AA LOOSE LARGE (12-2.5 FLATS) X 30 DOZEN USDA AA LOOSE MEDIUM (6-2.5 FLATS) X 15 DOZEN USDA AA LOOSE XLARGE (6-2.5 FLATS) X 15 DOZEN USDA AA LOOSE MEDIUM (12-2.5 FLATS) X 30 DOZEN USDA AA LOOSE XLARGE (12-2.5 FLATS) X 30 DOZEN |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | N/A |
| GREAT VALUE | GRADE A USDA 18PK XLARGE X 24 DOZEN RPC GRADE A USDA 12PK XLARGE X 24 DOZEN RPC GRADE A USDA TWIN 18PK LARGE X 24 DOZEN RPC GRADE A USDA 6PK LARGE X 15 DOZEN GRADE A USDA 12PK MEDIUM X 15 DOZEN GRADE A USDA 12PK LARGE X 24 DOZEN RPC GRADE A USDA 18PK LARGE X 24 DOZEN RPC GRADE A 12PK JUMBO X 22 DOZEN RPC GRADE A USDA 5DZ LARGE X 5 DOZEN |
P-1065 | Between 011 and 102 | 078742127132 078742127128 078742127101 078742127095 078742127224 078742127071 078742127088 078742127149 078742127118 |
| PUBLIX | GRADE A EXTRA LARGE EGGS 18PK | P-1359D | 048A or 049A (Best By Date of APR 02 or APR 03) |
0 41415 00966 0 |
| SUNUPS | GRADE A LARGE EGGS 18PK | P-1359D | 048A or 049A | 0 28621 36398 4 |
| XLG LOOSE GENERIC | 15 DZ | P-1359D | (Best By Date of APR 02 or APR 03) | N/A |
| RESTRICTED EGGS | P-1359D | 048A or 049A | N/A | |
| BREAKING STOCK | 30DZ | P-1359D | (Best By Date of APR 02 or APR 03) | N/A |
