FDA Finds Numerous Safety Violations in Shell Egg Farm Inspections

After completing comprehensive inspections and environmental sampling at 35 shell egg farms, the FDA has found numerous safety violations.

The inspections were conducted as an action item of the July 2010 Egg Safety Rule, requiring shell egg producers with 50,000 or more laying hens to implement measures to prevent Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) from contaminating eggs on the farm and during storage and transportation. The rule also requires producers to maintain records to document their compliance and to register with the FDA.

FDA intends to inspect all 600 farms currently subject to the Egg Safety Rule by January 2012. In September 2010, FDA began implementing a risk-based inspection strategy to meet its goal. The Agency first focused its inspections on 35 farms that had been associated with previous outbreaks and/or poor compliance history, issuing what is called an “assignment” to its field force.

Results of the first inspections included:
 
Records  (Most citations on the Form FDA 483s fell in this category)

• Record or specify actual time certain activities performed;
• Have a site-specific plan;
• Document procurement of chicks from SE-monitored breeding flock;
• Document compliance with biosecurity measures;
• Provide all data required on the truck disinfection log;
• Provide personal biosecurity measures specified in the firm’s biosecurity plan;
• Provide rodent and pest control records according to firm’s biosecurity plan; and
• Provide fly monitoring records with name and location of fly tapes.

Rodent and Pest Control

• Adequately control rodent activity at one poultry house;
• Follow the monitoring frequency listed in the rodent control plan;
• Prevent stray animals from entering poultry houses; and
• Remove debris/vegetation outside poultry houses that may provide potential harborage for pests.

Egg Storage

• One firm did not maintain eggs intended for the table egg market at 45°F or below.

Testing

• One firm did not test the pullet environment in one house at the required 14-16 weeks of age of the pullets.

Biosecurity

• One firm did not maintain practices protecting against cross-contamination when people move between poultry houses; and
• One firm did not prevent water from dripping into a hen-laying house near an egg conveyor belt.

Read the full report at FDA.