SCIENCE IN THE NEWS WEEKLY
Chicken Feed Likely Contributed to Egg Contamination
As the largest egg recall in U.S. history continued last week, FDA officials said contaminated chicken feed was likely a major contributor to the salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reported that, in a survey before the outbreak, only half of the federal scientists who monitor the safety of the nation's egg supply said they had full confidence that their organization adequately protects consumers from food-borne illness in eggs.
The consolidation of egg producers nationwide has meant that problems at even one company can have a far-reaching impact on public health, according to the Washington Post. "Just 192 large egg companies own about 95 percent of laying hens in this country, down from 2,500 in 1987."
And the New York Times reported that American regulators, in formulating recent new safety measures, decided not to require vaccination of laying hens against the salmonella bacteria, even though the vaccine has virtually wiped out the health threat in Britain. The article said it would cost "less than a penny per dozen eggs" to vaccinate hens.
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